Numerical Study on the Effects of Water and Heat Transport on Two-Phase Flow in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

A one-dimensional transient non-isothermal model was developed to study the two-phase flow phenomenon in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. The model focused on the phase change between vapor and liquid water, and the transport of oxygen, hydrogen, water, and heat. The cell was discretized into 39 control volumes, and the finite volume method and the iteration method were used to solve the transport equations. The variations in the state parameters of the model during fuel cell operations were analyzed. The results showed that, when the inlet gas humidity was high, the vapor tended to condense in gas diffusion layer regions close to the gas channel. As temperatures in these regions were low, the vapor was more likely to condense. Liquid water appeared latest in the middle of the anode gas diffusion layer, because the vapor concentration in this area is always lower than its saturated value. A higher operating temperature in a cell is beneficial to prevent flooding at the cathode.

Keywords

• polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
• two-phase flow
• heat transport
• phase change
• one-dimensional model
• finite volume method