Large scale simulation of liquid water transport in a gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells using the lattice Boltzmann method

Sakaida, Satoshi; Tabe, Yutaka; Chikahisa, Takemi

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2017.06.054

Cited by 52 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…The GDL structure was reconstructed from X-ray measurement results of an actual GDL (TORAY, TGP-H-60), and corresponds to the structure used in Fig. 5(b) of (Sakaida et al, 2017). The GDL fibers are set as solid walls.…”

Section: Simulation Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The contact angles of the MPL and the four sides are also set as 130°. In the LBM, the thresholds of the gas and liquid phases for the order parameter are set at , and the other non-dimensional parameters are detailed in (Sakaida et al, 2017). Table 1 is a reference case for the water flow in an actual scale GDL.…”

Section: Simulation Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To increase the computational speed of large scale three-dimensional simulations in the complex GDL structure, the LBM for two-phase flow with the same densities, considering the effect of wettability, was developed by the authors (Sakaida et al, 2017). Using the LBM, they showed the maximum limit of the Capillary number that maintains flow patterns similar to the precise simulation, and demonstrated large scale simulations covering a channel to investigate the effects of pore uniformity in the GDL on the water motion up into the channel.…”

Section: Simulation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the simulation model, the non-dimensional variables are defined by a characteristic length L, a characteristic particle speed c, and a characteristic time scale t 0 = L/U, where U is a characteristic flow speed (Inamuro et al, 2003); "non-dimensional" terms are represented by a circumflex in this paper. A three-dimensional 15 velocities model (3D15V model) was used where the velocities of particle ensembles are restricted to the i cˆ (i = 1,2,…,15) vectors (Sakaida et al, 2017). Two particle velocity distribution functions, i fˆ and i ĝ , are used.…”

Section: Simulation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using the two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulation, the authors have previously showed that two-phase flows are similar in the simplified GDL and in a 10 times enlarged structure, when the capillary number is the same, and in slow velocity conditions (Tabe et al, 2009). The authors also assumed the possibility of a scale model experiment, and applied it to investigate possible limits to the inlet velocity for equal flow patterns (Sakaida et al, 2017).…”

Section: Analysis Of the Possibility Of Scale Model Experiments Usingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scale model experiments for evaluation of liquid water transport in the gas diffusion layer of PEFCs

Tabe

Sakaida

Chikahisa

2018

JTST

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In polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), a gas diffusion layer (GDL) is a critical component to prevent flooding and to improve the cell efficiency under high current density operation. To advance the experimental method for evaluation of liquid water transport in GDL, this study proposes a method, termed scale model experiments. In this method, enlarged GDL structures are reproduced by a 3D printer, and simulated water behavior is observed with similarity conditions satisfying the flow in the GDL. The lattice Boltzmann simulation is applied to the enlarged model experiments and identifies dominant forces in the water dynamics. First, simulations are conducted to compare flow patterns at two different scales of GDL, the actual scale and 313 times enlarged structures, with combinations of two immiscible fluids. The results suggest that fluid behavior can be considered similar at the different scales, when the Capillary number is low enough for the flow to be dominated by capillary forces, at Ca = 3.0×10 −3 , with the additional condition of negligible buoyancy. Next, experiments with two types of 313 times enlarged GDL structures are conducted with silicone oil and water of similar densities, and the flows are compared to the simulation results. These suggest that the water transport in the GDL can be successfully reproduced by the enlarged model experiments. As similarity conditions, the Weber number must be kept below the order of 10 −1 to suppress inertial forces as well as the Capillary number must be below the order of 10 −3 for smaller viscous forces. Careful attention must be paid to the viscous forces of the two fluids in a relatively-uniform structure GDL. Finally, an experiment of water transport in the GDL with a channel is demonstrated, showing the effectiveness of the proposed experimental approach for designing GDL structures tolerant to flooding.

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Section: Simulation Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Simulation Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Simulation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Simulation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analysis Of the Possibility Of Scale Model Experiments Usingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Scale model experiments for evaluation of liquid water transport in the gas diffusion layer of PEFCs

Tabe

Sakaida

Chikahisa

2018

JTST

Self Cite

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Understanding Electrolyte Filling of Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrodes on the Pore Scale Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Lautenschlaeger

Prifling

Benjamin

et al. 2022

Batteries & Supercaps

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Electrolyte filling is a time-critical step during battery manufacturing that also affects battery performance. The underlying physical phenomena mainly occur on the pore scale and are hard to study experimentally. Therefore, here, the lattice Boltzmann method is used to study the filling of realistic 3D lithium-ion battery cathodes. Electrolyte flow through the nanoporous binder is modelled adequately. Besides process time, the influences of particle size, binder distribution, volume fraction and wetting behavior of active material and binder are investigated. Optimized filling conditions are discussed by pressure-saturation relationships. It is shown how the influencing factors affect the electrolyte saturation. The amount and distribution of entrapped residual gas are analyzed in detail. Both can adversely affect the battery performance. The results indicate how the filling process, the final electrolyte saturation, and also the battery performance can be optimized by adapting process parameters as well as electrode and electrolyte design.

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Numerical study and prediction of water transfer in gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells under vibrating conditions

Chen

2022

Intl J of Energy Research

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Summary Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) operate with vibrations that have a significant effect on the transfer of water and gas in the gas diffusion layer (GDL), as well as the conduction of electrons. However, the available research on the effects of vibration on PEMFC is sparse. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the transfer characteristics of water in GDL under different vibration conditions and to optimize the water content of GDL using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and machine learning method. The results show that the transfer of water in the GDL can be divided into two stages: water accumulation and drainage. In the accumulation stage, vibration has only a small effect on saturation; during the drainage stage, vibration causes saturation to fluctuate regularly. In addition, vibration has a large effect on the water content of GDL. Vibrations with a high frequency and a large amplitude will accelerate the accumulation of water in the GDL. Moreover, horizontal vibration will cause more flow paths, while vertical vibration will generate a relatively stable flow path. In addition, the established genetic algorithm‐back propagation neural network (GA‐BPNN) data‐driven model has good predictive performance for the saturation of water in the GDL. Compared to the physical simulation approach, the data‐driven model has faster computational efficiency and less computational cost and can be used to optimize the water content of GDL.

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Large scale simulation of liquid water transport in a gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells using the lattice Boltzmann method

Cited by 52 publications

References 21 publications

Scale model experiments for evaluation of liquid water transport in the gas diffusion layer of PEFCs

Scale model experiments for evaluation of liquid water transport in the gas diffusion layer of PEFCs

Understanding Electrolyte Filling of Lithium‐Ion Battery Electrodes on the Pore Scale Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

Numerical study and prediction of water transfer in gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells under vibrating conditions

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