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Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels

Carton, James orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-8498-2544, Olabi, Abdul-Ghani orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-9209-3619, Lawlor, Vincent, Hochenauer, C. and Zauner, G. (2012) Water droplet accumulation and motion in PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell mini-channels. Energy, 39 (1). pp. 63-73. ISSN 0360-5442

Abstract
Effective water management is one of the key strategies for improving low temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance and durability. Phenomena such as membrane dehydration, catalyst layer flooding, mass transport and fluid flow regimes can be affected by the interaction, distribution and movement of water in flow plate channels. In this paper a literature review is completed in relation to PEM fuel cell water flooding. It is clear that droplet formation, movement and interaction with the Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) have been studied extensively. However slug formation and droplet accumulation in the flow channels has not been analysed in detail. In this study, a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model and Volume of Fluid (VOF) method is used to simulate water droplet movement and slug formation in PEM fuel cell mini-channels. In addition, water slug visualisation is recorded in ex situ PEM fuel cell mini-channels. Observation and simulation results are discussed with relation to slug formation and the implications to PEM fuel cell performance.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:PEM Fuel Cell; Mini-channel; Flow Plate; Water flooding; Visualisation; VOF
Subjects:Mathematics > Dynamics
Engineering > Imaging systems
Engineering > Mechanical engineering
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Engineering and Computing > School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Publisher:Elsevier
Official URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2011.10.023
Copyright Information:© 2012 Elsevier
Use License:This item is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. View License
ID Code:19684
Deposited On:04 Feb 2014 15:09 by James Carton . Last Modified 03 Feb 2021 13:02
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