Three-dimensional simulation of large-scale proton exchange membrane fuel cell considering the liquid water removal characteristics on the cathode side

A 3D (three-dimensional) numerical simulation model is proposed to investigate the output performance and liquid water distribution of large-scale FF (flow field) considering DMGDZ ("dot matrix" gas distribution zone). The PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cell) is affected by gravity, and the simulation results demonstrate that the PEMFC has the best output performance and water removal effect when the length and width of DM ("dot matrix") are 1.5 mm and 0.8 mm, respectively. The effect of gravity direction on liquid volume fraction in cathode large-scale FF is not obvious, but liquid volume fraction increases with the increase of the contact angle of GDL (gas diffusion layer) and working current density. The variation of water vapor condensation rate and the MPL (micro-porous layer) contact angle in porous electrodes significantly affects the amount of liquid water in the CFF (cathode flow field), and the PEMFC performance is degraded. Due to the enhancement of convection effect, the waveform channel can effectively remove the liquid water from the cathode channel and slightly strengthen the overall PEMFC performance. According to the results of waveform channel analysis, the comparison of waveform and straight FFs with DMGDZ shows that the waveform FF is more conducive to facilitate the liquid water removal on the cathode side. Simultaneously, the reactant gas distribution is uniform and the output performance is higher.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.