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Water saturation modeling in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells using a validated approach

Khan, Munir LU ; Yuan, Jinliang LU and Sundén, Bengt LU (2011) 6th International Green Energy Conference (IGEC-VI)
Abstract
In this work, a 3D model of a PEM fuel cell has been developed for water saturation and its effects using a validated approach considering the internal movement of water across the membrane. For different operating levels, it was found that at lower current densities, the maximum saturation occurs faraway region from the air inlet because of the decrease in ability of air to evaporate the liquid water, while at higher current densities, a shift in the maximum value is noticed towards the inlet region due to increase in electro-chemical reaction rate and the electro-osmotic drag.

Apart from water saturation shift at different load conditions, it is also observed that the liquid water tends to accumulate at the interface of the... (More)
In this work, a 3D model of a PEM fuel cell has been developed for water saturation and its effects using a validated approach considering the internal movement of water across the membrane. For different operating levels, it was found that at lower current densities, the maximum saturation occurs faraway region from the air inlet because of the decrease in ability of air to evaporate the liquid water, while at higher current densities, a shift in the maximum value is noticed towards the inlet region due to increase in electro-chemical reaction rate and the electro-osmotic drag.

Apart from water saturation shift at different load conditions, it is also observed that the liquid water tends to accumulate at the interface of the inlet channel and the porous media. Considering the movement of water across the membrane, a linear profile for back diffusion was observed with increasing current density because of higher water content at the cathode. For the electro-osmotic drag, the increase is observed to follow the rate of increase of the electro-chemical reactions and becomes approximately constant at higher current density due to the concentration losses where the electro-chemical reaction rate is limited due to the physical characteristics

of the agglomerates. Although the rise trend of the back diffusion and

electro-osmotic drag followed a dissimilar pattern, the net transport was calculated

to be towards the anode side suggesting that the water content at the cathode side

increases with increasing current density, hence causing more problems for the PEM

fuel cells in terms of water management. (Less)
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publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
conference name
6th International Green Energy Conference (IGEC-VI)
conference location
Eskiseher, Turkey
conference dates
2011-06-02
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
8c7273eb-e324-4c3e-9394-3e8f19de41d9 (old id 2205920)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 13:01:32
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:11:49
@misc{8c7273eb-e324-4c3e-9394-3e8f19de41d9,
  abstract     = {{In this work, a 3D model of a PEM fuel cell has been developed for water saturation and its effects using a validated approach considering the internal movement of water across the membrane. For different operating levels, it was found that at lower current densities, the maximum saturation occurs faraway region from the air inlet because of the decrease in ability of air to evaporate the liquid water, while at higher current densities, a shift in the maximum value is noticed towards the inlet region due to increase in electro-chemical reaction rate and the electro-osmotic drag.<br/><br>
Apart from water saturation shift at different load conditions, it is also observed that the liquid water tends to accumulate at the interface of the inlet channel and the porous media. Considering the movement of water across the membrane, a linear profile for back diffusion was observed with increasing current density because of higher water content at the cathode. For the electro-osmotic drag, the increase is observed to follow the rate of increase of the electro-chemical reactions and becomes approximately constant at higher current density due to the concentration losses where the electro-chemical reaction rate is limited due to the physical characteristics<br/><br>
of the agglomerates. Although the rise trend of the back diffusion and<br/><br>
electro-osmotic drag followed a dissimilar pattern, the net transport was calculated<br/><br>
to be towards the anode side suggesting that the water content at the cathode side<br/><br>
increases with increasing current density, hence causing more problems for the PEM<br/><br>
fuel cells in terms of water management.}},
  author       = {{Khan, Munir and Yuan, Jinliang and Sundén, Bengt}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Water saturation modeling in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells using a validated approach}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}