Water Management in PEM Fuel Cells : The Effects of Gravity on Vertically Positioned Flow Channels
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Authors
Isbell, Lauren R.
Issue Date
2012
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
A unique device is used to emulate water droplet emergence from a porous electrode and slug formation in the gas flow channel of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Liquid water emerges from a pore forming a droplet, which grows to span the cross-sectional area of the channel and transitions to a slug that then detaches and travels towards the channel exit. Droplet growth, slug formation, detachment, and motion are analyzed using pressure-time traces and MATLAB. Slug volume is controlled primarily by channel geometry, interfacial forces, and the effects of gravity. A physics-based model is presented to predict slug volumes and pressure drops for slug motion. From these results, the amount of power required to remove water from a flow channel is calculated. Results showed that the vertically positioned flow channel studied in this experiment is less power efficient than the previous, and currently, studied horizontal positioned flow channels.
Description
28 p.
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