Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Modeling of droplet detachment using dynamic contact angles in polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas channels

Andersson, M. LU ; Vukčević, V. ; Zhang, S. LU ; Qi, Y. LU ; Jasak, H. ; Beale, S. B. and Lehnert, W. (2019) In International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 44(21). p.11088-11096
Abstract

Climate change, energy security and air pollution are all motivators for the further development of fuel cells. A volume of fluid approach was used to investigate the impact of dynamic contact angle boundary conditions (Kistler model), mainly at the gas diffusion layer surface but also at the channel wall, of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas channel. From this study, it is clear that a dynamic contact angle boundary condition, with advancing and receding contact angles, influences the droplet detachment characteristics, for example, the detachment time and droplet size. Implementing dynamic contact angle boundary conditions for a thin channel causes the droplet, after being reattached to the wall on the side opposite the GDL, to flow... (More)

Climate change, energy security and air pollution are all motivators for the further development of fuel cells. A volume of fluid approach was used to investigate the impact of dynamic contact angle boundary conditions (Kistler model), mainly at the gas diffusion layer surface but also at the channel wall, of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas channel. From this study, it is clear that a dynamic contact angle boundary condition, with advancing and receding contact angles, influences the droplet detachment characteristics, for example, the detachment time and droplet size. Implementing dynamic contact angle boundary conditions for a thin channel causes the droplet, after being reattached to the wall on the side opposite the GDL, to flow very slowly when attached to the wall, until it is merged with a second droplet and they exit the channel (but remain attached to the wall) fairly quickly. Similar phenomena are not observed while using a static contact angle.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Dynamic contact angles, Kistler model, Polymer electrolyte fuel cell, Volume of fluid approach
in
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
volume
44
issue
21
pages
11088 - 11096
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85062951133
ISSN
0360-3199
DOI
10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.166
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ac0507d8-7024-4fde-9d5b-bb7db5dbc510
date added to LUP
2019-03-29 14:19:50
date last changed
2022-07-05 04:48:10
@article{ac0507d8-7024-4fde-9d5b-bb7db5dbc510,
  abstract     = {{<p>Climate change, energy security and air pollution are all motivators for the further development of fuel cells. A volume of fluid approach was used to investigate the impact of dynamic contact angle boundary conditions (Kistler model), mainly at the gas diffusion layer surface but also at the channel wall, of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas channel. From this study, it is clear that a dynamic contact angle boundary condition, with advancing and receding contact angles, influences the droplet detachment characteristics, for example, the detachment time and droplet size. Implementing dynamic contact angle boundary conditions for a thin channel causes the droplet, after being reattached to the wall on the side opposite the GDL, to flow very slowly when attached to the wall, until it is merged with a second droplet and they exit the channel (but remain attached to the wall) fairly quickly. Similar phenomena are not observed while using a static contact angle.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersson, M. and Vukčević, V. and Zhang, S. and Qi, Y. and Jasak, H. and Beale, S. B. and Lehnert, W.}},
  issn         = {{0360-3199}},
  keywords     = {{Dynamic contact angles; Kistler model; Polymer electrolyte fuel cell; Volume of fluid approach}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{21}},
  pages        = {{11088--11096}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Hydrogen Energy}},
  title        = {{Modeling of droplet detachment using dynamic contact angles in polymer electrolyte fuel cell gas channels}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.166}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.166}},
  volume       = {{44}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}