Two-Dimensional, Two-Phase, Non-Isothermal Model Ofproton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

Fuel cells are part of the environmental and transportation solution of our future. With the creation of new performant catalysts [1], the use of less noble metals in the catalyst layer [2] and possible replacement of the Pt [3], it is essential to develop multiphysic models with high degree of detail for a complete optimization of the system. In this work, we develop a simple and accurate two-dimensional model for the resolution of the effects of anode and cathode flows and GDLs, catalyst layers and membrane. Brinkman equations are used to model flow distribution in GDLs and CLs. Maxwell-Stefan equations are used to model transport of gas species in GDLs and CLs by advection and diffusion mechanisms, and electrochemical reactions in the CL interfaces are modeled by modified Butler-Volmer equations. Furthemore liquid water, and dissolved water are included in the model. Conservation of liquid saturation is included in the cathode layers because of its effect on the gas transport and the cell performancedue to flooding specially at high current densities. Equations are solved numerically with the commercial finite element package, COMSOL Multiphysics v5.5. Fully-coupled solution is used with Newton iterations and direct MUMPS solver. Figure 1a. Polarization curve computed by the model. Figure 1b. Distributions of liquid water saturation at cell voltage 0.4 V; anode and cathode sides are at the top and bottom, respectively. Keywords : PEM, Fuel Cell, CFD, Two-phase, Saturation, FEM, flooding Stamenkovic, V. R.; Mun, B. S.; Mayrhofer, K. J.; Ross, P. N.; Markovic, N. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2006, 128 (27), 8813−8819.Thompson, S.T., James, B.D., Huya-Kouadio, J.M., Houchins, C., DeSantis, D.A., Ahluwalia, R., Wilson, A.R., Kleen, G., Papageorgopoulos, D.. J. Power Sources 399, 304–313 (2018)H.A. Monteverde Videla, S. Ban, S. Specchia, L. Zhang, J. Zhang. Carbon, 76 (2014), pp. 386-400 Figure 1