Numerical Analysis of Heat Transfer and Gas Flow in PEM Fuel Cell Ducts by a Generalized Extended Darcy Model

Abstract

In this work, gas flow and heat transfer have been numerically investigated and analyzed for both cathode/anode ducts of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. The simulation is conducted by solving a set of conservation equations for the whole domain consisting of a porous medium, solid structure, and flow duct. A generalized extended Darcy model is employed to investigate the flow inside the porous layer. This model accounts for the boundary-layer development, shear stress, and microscopic inertial force as well. Effects of inertial coefficient, together with permeability, effective thermal conductivity, and thickness of the porous layer on gas flow and heat transfer are investigated.

Analysis of parameter effects on transport phenomena in conjunction with chemical reactions in ducts relevant for methane reformers

“…It was revealed in [8] that heat transfer can be significantly affected by the effective thermal conductivity and Darcy number of the porous medium. Various types of interfacial conditions between a porous medium and a gas flow duct were analyzed in detailed for both gas flow and heat transfer in [9]. It is clear that part of the gas flow penetrates into the porous layer and the remaining gas flows downstream at decreasing flow rates.…”

“…Fundamental studies of forced convective heat transfer and gas flow, where the porous media appear, have been considered by various investigators in recent years, see [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Because of the simplicity and reasonable performance within a certain range of applications, the Darcy model has been used for the majority of existing studies on gas flow and heat transfer in porous media.…”

The effect of channel-to-channel gas crossover on the pressure and temperature distribution in PEM fuel cell flow plates

“…Yuan et al [1] investigated gas flow and heat transfer in a PEM fuel cell system, considering both the cathode and the anode ducts. However they assumed straight channels and so did not allow for the possibility of channel-to-channel crossover.…”

“…Dimensionless temperature distributions on the three planes considered for Re = 100, porosity = 0.6, and dimensionless plate conductivity = 3700. planes for two porosity values and two values of the dimensionless plate conductivity are shown in Figs [13][14][15]…”

Effects of Hardware Design and Operation Conditions on PEM Fuel Cell Water Flooding

“…In various efforts to develop mitigation strategies for water flooding, researchers have carried out numerous studies using numerical simulations and predictions (modeling) (Le and Zhou 2009;McKay et al 2008;Meng and Wang 2005;Patel et al 2008;Wang et al 2001;Yuan and Sundén 2004), as well as experimental investigation and diagnosis (Canut et al 2006;Ihonen et al 2004;Spernjak et al 2007;Weng et al 2007). Fundamental modeling that addresses water flooding through a two-phase flow model has developed rapidly, and is demonstrably useful in understanding both the importance of water management and the sensitivity of water flooding to fuel cell operating conditions and components.…”