Effect of hydrophilic pipe structure of proton exchange membrane fuel cell on water removal from the gas diffusion layer surface. (26th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shuai; Zhang, Libin; Wang, Zhong; Dong, Fei; Zhao, Qingliang; Zhang, Qixia
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 59(2021)
• Page Start: 30442
• Page End: 30454
• Publication Date: 2021-08-26
• Subjects: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell -- Water management -- Gas diffusion layer -- VOF -- Hydrophilic pipe; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.06.175
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: In a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), effective GDL surface water elimination is significant to water management. This paper used the volume-of-fluid method (VOF) method to carry out simulation research on transferring liquid water in the flow channel with a hydrophilic pipe. The findings indicated that compared with a straight channel, a hydrophilic pipe structure could effectively remove water from the gas diffusion surface (GDL) and reduce the surface water coverage of the GDL. With the increase in the diameter and height of the pipe structure, the GDL surface's water coverage first increased and then decreased, and it was less with the pipe structure than with the direct flow channel. The removal rate of water on the GDL surface was accelerated. The spacing of hydrophilic pipes has a significant impact on the transportation of water. As the spacing increases, the removal rate of water on the GDL surface slowed. A hydrophilic pipe structure with a diameter of 75 μm, a height of 400 μm, and spacing of 300 μm has good water removal performance on the GDL surface. This research work proposes a new internal structure design of the flow channel, which has specific implications for removing water on the GDL surface. Highlights: Water removal and transport in a novel PEMFC channel is analyzed numerically. The novel flow channel consists of a hydrophilic pipe in the flow channel. The hydrophilic pipe can effectively remove the liquid water on the surface of GDL. Effect of hydrophilic structure parameters on the removal rate of liquid water on GDL surface. The optimal diameter, height and spacing of hydrophilic pipes are investigated.