Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B (대한기계학회논문집B)

The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (대한기계학회)
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Experimental and Numerical Assessment of Liquid Water Exhaust Performance of Flow Channels in PEM Fuel Cells

고분자 전해질 연료전지 유로의 수분배출 특성의 실험 및 해석적 평가

  • 김현일 (국민대학교 대학원 기계공학과) ;
  • 남진현 (국민대학교 기계자동차공학부) ;
  • 신동훈 (국민대학교 기계자동차공학부) ;
  • 정태용 (국민대학교 기계자동차공학부) ;
  • 김영규 (한국가스안전공사 가스안전연구원)
  • Published : 2009.02.01
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Abstract

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a promising technology for short-term power generation required in residential and automobile applications. Proper management of water has been found to be essential for improving the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells. This study investigated the liquid water exhaust capabilities of various flow channels having different geometries and surface properties. Three-pass serpentine flow fields were prepared by patterning channels of 1 mm or 2 mm width onto hydrophilic Acrylic plates or hydrophobic Teflon plates, and the behaviors of liquid water in those flow channels were experimentally visualized. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were also conducted to quantitatively assess the liquid water exhaust capabilities of flow channels for PEM fuel cells. Numerical results showed that hydrophobic flow channels have better liquid water exhaust capabilities than hydrophilic flow channels. Flow channels with curved corners showed less droplet stagnation than the channels with sharp corners. It was also found that a smaller width is desirable for hydrophobic flow channels while a larger width is desirable for hydrophilic ones. The above results were explained as being due to the different droplet morphologies in hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels.

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References

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