A semi-analytical model for droplet dynamics on the GDL surface of a PEFC electrode
Water management is one of the key factors in Proton Exchange Fuel Cell (PEFC) performance. The water produced within the fuel cell is evacuated through the gas channels, but at high current densities water can block the channel, thus limiting the current density generated in the fuel cell. A semi-a...
| Autores: | , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2015 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/81093 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/81093 https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.01.058 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Fuel cells Fluid dynamics Droplet dynamics Adhesion force Drag force Dinàmica de fluids Piles de combustible Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Física::Física de fluids::Flux de fluids |
| Sumario: | Water management is one of the key factors in Proton Exchange Fuel Cell (PEFC) performance. The water produced within the fuel cell is evacuated through the gas channels, but at high current densities water can block the channel, thus limiting the current density generated in the fuel cell. A semi-analytical model of a water droplet emerging from a gas diffusion layer pore in a PEFC channel is developed. The transient model contains a detailed adhesion and drag force estimation model. Results show that the predicted values for both drag and surface tension force are higher than the results found in literature. The results for the detachment force are consistent with the experimental data available. Higher air velocity values lead to more deformation of the droplet and oscillation with lower frequency but higher amplitude. Similar effects have been identified when the liquid mass flow is increased, leading to faster detachment of the droplet. |
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