A comprehensive review of the modeling of transport phenomenon in the flow channels of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Reactant gas and liquid water transport phenomena in the flow channels are complex and critical to the performance and durability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The polymer membrane needs water at an optimum level for proton conductivity. Water management involves the prevention of dehydration, waterlogging, and the cell’s subsequent performance decline and degradation. This process requires the study and understanding of internal two-phase flows. Different experimental visualization techniques are used to study two-phase flows in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, the experiments have limitations in in situ measurements; they are also expensive and time exhaustive. In contrast, numerical modeling is cheaper and faster, providing insights into the complex multiscale processes occurring across the components of the polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

This paper introduces the recent design of flow channels. It reviews the numerical modeling techniques adopted for the transport phenomena therein: the two-fluid, multiphase mixture, volume of fluid, lattice Boltzmann, and pressure drop models. Furthermore, this work describes, compares, and analyses the models’ approaches and reviews the representative results of some selected aspects. Finally, the paper summarizes the modeling perspectives, emphasizing future directions with some recommendations.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

two-phase flows / numerical model / flow channel / polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells / water management

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Higher Education Press