Coupled continuum and condensation-evaporation pore network model of the cathode in polymer-electrolyte fuel cell

Najib Belgacem (1) , Marc Prat (1) , Joël Pauchet (2, 3)

1 IMFT - Institut de mécanique des fluides de Toulouse
2 LITEN - Laboratoire d'Innovation pour les Technologies des Energies Nouvelles et les nanomatériaux
3 UGA [2016-2019] - Université Grenoble Alpes [2016-2019]

A model of the cathode side of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell coupling the transfers in the GDL with the phenomena taking place in the cathode catalyst layer and the protonic transport in the membrane is presented. This model combines the efficiency of pore network models to simulate the liquid water formation in the fibrous substrate of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the simplicity of a continuum approach in the micro-porous layer (MPL). The model allows simulating the liquid pattern inside the cathode GDL taking into account condensation and evaporation phenomena under the assumption that the water produced by the electro-chemical reactions enters the MPL in vapor form from the catalyst layer. Results show the importance of the coupling between the transfers within the various layers, especially when liquid water forms as the result of condensation in the region of the GDL fibrous substrate located below the rib.

Mots clés: Pore Network Model; Condensation evaporation; Gas diffusion layer; Rib-channel; PEMFC; Continuum PNM coupled model

Domaines: Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]

Najib Belgacem, Marc Prat, Joël Pauchet. Coupled continuum and condensation-evaporation pore network model of the cathode in polymer-electrolyte fuel cell. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2017, 42 (12), pp.8150-8165. ⟨10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.01.184⟩. ⟨hal-01798299⟩