| Download | - View accepted manuscript: Two-phase flow and mass transfer within the diffusion layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PDF, 807 KiB)
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| DOI | Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1615/ComputThermalScien.v1.i2.10 |
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| Author | Search for: Beale, Steven1; Search for: Schwarz, D. H.1; Search for: Malin, M. R.; Search for: Spalding, D. Brian |
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| Affiliation | - National Research Council of Canada. NRC Institute for Chemical Process and Environmental Technology
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| Format | Text, Article |
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| Subject | polymer electrolyte membrane; fuel cell; diffusion layer; oxygen transport; cathode; two-phase flow; mass transfer; Darcy 's law; Fick 's law; interphase slip algorithm; flow-field calculations |
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| Abstract | The membrane of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell must be hydrated with liquid water at all times in order to function effectively. At high current densities, liquid water in the pores of the diffusion layer inhibits oxygen transport to the cathode. The present paper shows the results of an analysis of two-phase flow and mass transfer in the diffusion layer of a fuel cell. A computational fluid dynamics code is adapted to perform calculations assuming Darcy 's law applies, with the rate of oxygen diffusion governed by Fick 's law. Both relative permeability and capillary pressure are strongly dependent on saturation. A modified version of the interphase slip algorithm is used to perform flow-field calculations. The two phases are each assigned a different pressure. Phase continuity is solved for liquid-phase saturation, from whence capillary pressure, relative permeability, and oxygen exchange coefficients are obtained. Results of numerical calculations are compared to an analytical solution with excellent agreement. Detailed calculations for a typical present-day fuel cells are presented. The results are correlated in terms of gas mass transfer driving force as a function of blowing parameter. |
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| Publication date | 2009 |
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| Terms of use | - The material in this document is covered by the provisions of the Copyright Act, by Canadian laws, policies, regulations and international agreements. Such provisions serve to identify the information source and, in specific instances, to prohibit reproduction of materials without written permission
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| Access condition | |
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| Language | English |
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| Peer reviewed | Yes |
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| NRC number | NRCC 51710 |
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| NPARC number | 9126853 |
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| Export citation | Export as RIS |
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| Report a correction | Report a correction (opens in a new tab) |
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| Record identifier | 5604bdb5-c7de-4143-813f-07311b6ac54a |
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| Record created | 2009-10-02 |
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| Record modified | 2020-04-16 |
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