On the computational fluid dynamics of PEM fuel cells (PEMFCs): an investigation on mesh independence analysis

Abstract

Mesh independence analysis is one of the most crucial steps in any CFD problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the most commonly used variables employed for grid independency studies in a typical PEMFC and to find possibly the most effective variables that may be decisive in a PEMFC grid independence test. Herein, a three-dimensional (3-D), steady state, non-isothermal computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a serpentine channel proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was developed. The present model includes various conservation equations that are dominant in a typical PEMFC: the mass, momentum, species, charge, and energy equations, which are coupled with the electrochemical model. The numerical results indicate that much more care should be taken while obtaining a mesh independence solution for CFD studies in PEMFC systems. Based on our findings in this study, it was demonstrated that employment of merely the polarization curve (current-voltage), especially only in a given specific point, was not sufficient to carry out the mesh independence tests for CFD studies in PEMFCs. In addition, it was observed that the average volumetric hydrogen concentration inside the catalyst layer on the anode side has a more significant role to check the grid independency tests.

The effect of non-uniform compression on the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells

“…• The current density was found to go through a minimum at the centre of the land and the centre of the channels, particularly at the ohmic dominant and mass transport dominant operation. This phenomenon is in agreement with the previously published literature [56,57,[59][60][61].…”

Comparative study of conventional and unconventional designs of cathode flow fields in PEM fuel cell

“…A stringent grid study method similar to the one in our previous work [51] was adopted for the present study. For the geometry cases with the blockage and metal foam flowfield distributors, a fine mesh (both in y-and x-directions) was applied near to the blocks and the metal foam channels.…”

Calibration of CFD grid for simulating the impeller clearance flow and axial hydraulic force of centrifugal pump

“…The key issue is also the balance between computational cost and accuracy especially for transient cases which covers a long simulation time with small time step intervals. 29–31 For saving the computational cost, structural grid is a good choice. 32 However, there are many parameters should be properly valued.…”