Coupling of Pore-Phase and Solid-Phase Networks for Simulating Heat and Mass Transport in Porous Transport Layers

Abstract

The stochastic morphology of a PTL can be characterized using a probability distribution of void volume size, known as a pore size distribution. Pore size distribution data can be obtained using porosimetry or tomography and is almost universally based on spherical pore volumes. This presentation discusses a methodology for transforming a spherical pore size distribution data, which is invariant with respect to sample size, into a pore-network model (PNM) that is size dependent. This methodology maintains the appropriate stochastic distribution, physical size and bulk porosity of the original PTL. The resulting PNM domain is unique to the original PTL sample; meaning that the pore-network is material or manufacturer specific. Thus, simulation of reactant and water transport is also material or manufacturer specific.