Liquid Water Transport Characteristics and Droplet Dynamics of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with 3D Wave Channel

Abstract

Water management is a crucial aspect in the efficient functioning of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The presence of a two-phase flow, consisting of water and reactive gas, in the channel of the PEMFC is of utmost importance for effective water management. This study focuses on investigating the removal of liquid water in 3D wave channels and 2D straight channels using the volume of fluid method. The study analyzes the dynamic behavior of droplets emerging from the gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the channel under the influence of gas flow. The study also explores the effects of droplet growth, deformation, detachment, force, and pore size on critical water behavior and water content in the channel. The results indicate that the 3D wave channel is more effective in removing liquid water compared to the 2D straight channel. It is observed that increasing the velocity facilitates the discharge of liquid water. However, excessively high velocities lead to parasitic power losses. Furthermore, while larger pore sizes in the GDL are not advantageous for PEMFC performance, a moderate increase in pore size aids in the discharge of liquid water. The knowledge gained through this study deepens the understanding of droplet dynamics in PEMFC gas channels and assists in optimizing the design and operational conditions of these channels.