Numerical investigation of water dynamics in a novel wettability gradient anode flow channel for proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Xiaoqing Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJiapei Yang
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xiao Ma
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Xiao Ma, State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorShijin Shuai
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeilin Zhuge
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXiaoqing Zhang
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJiapei Yang
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xiao Ma
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Xiao Ma, State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorShijin Shuai
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeilin Zhuge
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, Grant/Award Number: No. Z181100004518004; National Key R&D Program of China, Grant/Award Numbers: I&C of FCE for HDT & AT of FCER for HDT, No. 2018YFB0105403
Summary
The effective removal and transport of water in flow channels play an important role in the water management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this paper, a novel design of anode serpentine flow channel with the wettability gradient wall is discussed and numerically investigated by utilizing the volume-of-fluid (VOF) method. The effects of the contact angle and the wettability gradient of channel walls, as well as hydrogen flow velocity and water droplet size, on the droplet dynamic behavior are studied. The results indicate that compared with the conventional flow channel, the water droplet can be more effectively removed from the turning part in the wettability gradient flow channel. And the water removal ability in the turning part is improved with the increase of the wettability gradient. Moreover, the wettability gradient flow channel can also improve the water removal performance for the cases with different hydrogen flow velocities and water droplet sizes. This study provides ideas for guiding the design of flow channel to effectively enhance anode water management.
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