The effects of water transport through membrane electrolyte assembly of a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell on cell performance has been studied by a one-dimensional, nonisothermal, steady-state model. Three forms of water are considered in the model: dissolved water in the electrolyte or membrane, and liquid water and water vapor in the void space. Phase changes among these three forms of water are included based on the corresponding local equilibriums between the two involved forms. Water transport and its effect on cell performance have been discussed under different operating conditions by using the value and the sign of the net water transport coefficient, which is defined by the net flux of water transported from the anode side to the cathode side per proton flux. Optimal cell performance can be obtained by adjusting the liquid water saturation at the interface of the cathode gas diffusion layer and flow channels.
1.
Weber
, A. Z.
, and Newman
, J.
, 2004, “Modeling Transport in Polymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” Chem. Rev. (Washington, D.C.)
0009-2665, 104
, pp. 4679
–4726
.2.
Wang
, C. Y.
, 2004, “Fundamental Models for Fuel Cell Engineering
,” Chem. Rev. (Washington, D.C.)
0009-2665, 104
, pp. 4727
–4766
.3.
Yao
, K. Z.
, Karan
, K.
, McAuley
, K. B.
, Oosthuizen
, P.
, Peppley
, B.
, and Xie
, T.
, 2004, “A Review of Mathematical Models for Hydrogen and Direct Methanol Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
,” Fuel Cells
0532-7822, 4
, pp. 3
–29
.4.
Song
, D.
, Wang
, Q.
, Liu
, Z.
, Navessin
, T.
, Eikerling
, M.
, and Holdcroft
, S.
, 2004, “Numerical Optimization Study of the Catalyst Layer of PEM Fuel Cell Cathode
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 126
, pp. 104
–111
.5.
Song
, D.
, Wang
, Q.
, Liu
, Z.
, Eikerling
, M.
, Xie
, Z.
, Navessin
, T.
, and Holdcroft
, S.
, 2005, “A Method for Optimizing Distributions of Nafion and Pt in Cathode Catalyst Layers of PEM Fuel Cells
,” Electrochim. Acta
0013-4686, 50
, pp. 3347
–3358
.6.
Eikerling
, M.
, 2006, “Water Management in Cathode Catalyst Layers of PEM Fuel Cells: A Structure-Based Model
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 153
, pp. E58
–E70
.7.
Springer
, T. E.
, Zawodzinski
, T. A.
, and Gottesfeld
, S.
, 1991, “Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Model
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 138
, pp. A2334
–A2341
.8.
Eikerling
, M.
, and Kornyshev
, A. A.
, 1998, “Modelling the Performance of the Cathode Catalyst Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” J. Electroanal. Chem.
0022-0728, 453
, pp. 89
–106
.9.
Marr
, C.
, and Li
, X.
, 1999, “Composition and Performance Modeling of Catalyst Layer in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 77
, pp. 17
–21
.10.
Dutta
, S.
, Shimpalee
, S.
, and Van Zee
, J. W.
, 2000, “Three-Dimensional Numerical Simultion of Straight Channel PEM Fuel Cells
,” J. Appl. Electrochem.
0021-891X, 30
, pp. 135
–146
.11.
Wang
, Q.
, Eikerling
, M.
, Song
, D.
, Liu
, Z.
, Navessin
, T.
, Xie
, Z.
, and Holdcroft
, S.
, 2004, “Functionally Graded Cathode Catalyst Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells-Part I: Theoretical Modeling
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 151
, pp. A950
–A957
.12.
Bernardi
, D. M.
, and Verbrugge
, M. W.
, 1991, “A Mathematical Model of a Gas Diffusion Electrode Bonded to a Polymer Electrolyte
,” AIChE J.
0001-1541, 37
, pp. 1161
–1163
.13.
Janssen
, G. J. M.
, 2001, “A Phenomenological Model of Water Transport in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 148
, pp. A1313
–A1323
.14.
He
, W.
, Yi
, J. S.
, and Nguyen
, T. V.
, 2000, “Two-Phase Flow Model of the Cathode of PEM Fuel Cells Using Interdigitated Flow Fields
,” AIChE J.
0001-1541, 46
, pp. 2053
–2064
.15.
Wang
, Z. H.
, Wang
, C. Y.
, and Chen
, K. S.
, 2001, “Two-Phase Flow and Transport in the Air Cathode of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 94
, pp. 40
–50
.16.
Pasaogullari
, U.
, and Wang
, C. Y.
, 2004, “Two-Phase Transport and the Role of Micro-Porous Layer in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” Electrochim. Acta
0013-4686, 49
, pp. 4359
–4369
.17.
Siegel
, N. P.
, Ellis
, M. W.
, Nelson
, D. J.
, and von Spakovsky
, M. R.
, 2004, “A Two-Dimensional Computational Model of a PEMFC With Liquid Water Transport
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 128
, pp. 173
–184
.18.
Mazumder
, S.
, and Cole
, J. V.
, 2003, “Rigorous 3D Mathematical Modelling of PEM Fuel Cells: II. Model Predictions With Liquid Water Transport
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 150
, pp. A1510
–A1517
.19.
Weber
, A. Z.
, Darling
, R. M.
, and Newman
, J.
, 2004, “Modeling Two-Phase Behavior in PEFCs
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 151
, pp. A1715
–A1727
.20.
You
, L.
, and Liu
, H.
, 2006, “A Two-Phase Flow and Transport Model for PEM Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 155
, pp. 219
–230
.21.
Berning
, T.
, and Djilali
, N.
, 2003, “A 3D, Multiphase, Multicomponent Model of the Cathode and Anode of a PEM Fuel Cell
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 150
, pp. A1589
–A1598
.22.
Baschuk
, J. J.
, and Li
, X.
, 2000, “Modeling of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells With Variable Degrees of Water Flooding
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 86
, pp. 181
–196
.23.
Shah
, A. A.
, Kim
, G. -S.
, Gervais
, W.
, Young
, A.
, Promislow
, K.
, Li
, J.
, and Ye
, S.
, 2006, “The Effects of Water and Microstructure on the Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 160
, pp. 1251
–1268
.24.
Berg
, P.
, Promislow
, K.
, St-Pierre
, J.
, Stumper
, J.
, and Wetton
, B.
, 2004, “Water Management in PEM Fuel Cells
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 151
, pp. A341
–A353
.25.
Noponen
, M.
, Birgersson
, E.
, Ihonen
, J.
, Vynnycky
, M.
, Lundblad
, A.
, and Lindbergh
, G.
, 2004, “A Two-Phase Non-Isothermal PEFC Model: Theory and Validation
,” Fuel Cells
0532-7822, 4
, pp. 365
–377
.26.
Song
, D.
, Wang
, Q.
, Liu
, Z. -S.
, and Huang
, C.
, 2006, “Transient Analysis for the Cathode Gas Diffusion Layer of PEM Fuel Cells
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 159
, pp. 928
–942
.27.
Birgersson
, E.
, Noponen
, M.
, and Vynnycky
, M.
, 2005, “Analysis of a Two-Phase Non-Isothermal Model for a PEFC
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 152
, pp. A1021
–A1034
.28.
Wang
, Y.
, and Wang
, C. Y.
, 2006, “A Nonisothermal, Two-Phase Model for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 153
, pp. A1193
–A1200
.29.
Steinkamp
, K.
, Schumacher
, J. O.
, Goldsmith
, F.
, Ohlberger
, M.
, and Ziegler
, C.
, 2008, “A Nonisothermal PEM Fuel Cell Model Including Two Water Transport Mechanisms in the Membrane
,” ASME J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol.
1550-624X, 5
, p. 011007
.30.
Abriola
, L. M.
, and Pinder
, G. F.
, 1985, “A Multiphase Approach to the Modeling of Porous Media Contamination by Organic Compounds 1. Equation Development
,” Water Resour. Res.
0043-1397, 21
, pp. 11
–18
.31.
Berger
, C.
, 1968, Handbook of Fuel Cell Technology
, Prentice-Hall
, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
.32.
Crank
, J.
, 1975, The Mathematics of Diffusion
, 2nd ed., Oxford Science
, Oxford
, pp. 88
.33.
Hinatsu
, J. T.
, Mizuhata
, M.
, and Takenaka
, H.
, 1994, “Water Uptake of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Membranes From Liquid Water and Water Vapour
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 141
, pp. A1493
–A1497
.34.
Bird
, R. B.
, Stewart
, W. E.
, and Lightfoot
, E. N.
, 2002, Transport Phenomena
, 2nd ed., Wiley
, New York
.35.
Ogumi
, Z.
, Takehara
, Z.
, and Yoshizawa
, S.
, 1984, “Gas Permeation in SPE Method I. Oxygen Permeation Through Nafion and Neosepta
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 131
, pp. A769
–A772
.36.
Motupally
, S.
, Becker
, A. J.
, and Weidner
, J. W.
, 2000, “Diffusion of Water in Nafion Membranes
,” J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651, 147
, pp. A3171
–A3177
.37.
Marsh
, K. N.
, 1987, Recommended Reference Materials for the Realization of Physicochemical Properties
, Blackwell Scientific
, Oxford
.38.
Morrow
, N. R.
, 1970, “Irreducible Wetting-Phase Saturations in Porous Media
,” Chem. Eng. Sci.
0009-2509, 25
, pp. 1799
–1815
.39.
Khandelwal
, M.
, and Mench
, M. M.
, 2006, “Direct Measurement of Through-Plane Thermal Conductivity and Contact Resistance in Fuel Cell Materials
,” J. Power Sources
0378-7753, 161
, pp. 1106
–1115
.Copyright © 2010
by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.
