Investigation of liquid water heterogeneities in large area proton exchange membrane fuel cells using a Darcy two-phase flow model in a multiphysics code. (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tardy, Erwan; Poirot-Crouvezier, Jean-Philippe; Schott, Pascal; Morel, Christophe; Serre, Guillaume; Bultel, Yann
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 47:Number 91(2022)
• Page Start: 38721
• Page End: 38735
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell -- Water management -- Darcy two-phase flow model -- Pseudo-3D simulations; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Proper management of the liquid water and heat produced in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells remains crucial to increase both its performance and durability. In this study, a two-phase flow and multicomponent model, called two-fluid model, is developed in the commercial COMSOL Multiphysics® software to investigate the liquid water heterogeneities in large area PEM fuel cells, considering the real flow fields in the bipolar plate. A macroscopic pseudo-3D multi-layers approach has been chosen and generalized Darcy's relation is used both in the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) and in the channel. The model considers two-phase flow and gas convection and diffusion coupled with electrochemistry and water transport through the membrane. The numerical results are compared to one-fluid model results and liquid water measurements obtained by neutron imaging for several operating conditions. Finally, according to the good agreement between the two-fluid and experimentation results, the numerical water distribution is examined in each component of the cell, exhibiting very heterogeneous water thickness over the cell surface. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Darcy two-phase flow model compared with neutron imaging measurements. Liquid water distribution in each layer of the cell. Good agreement of the two-phase flow model for high power condition. Impact of the flow fields design on liquid water thickness distribution.