Simulation of Mass and Heat Transfer in an Evaporatively Cooled PEM Fuel Cell

Evaporative cooling is a promising concept to improve proton exchange membrane fuel cells. While the particular concept based on gas diffusion layers (GDLs) modified with hydrophilic lines (HPILs) has recently been demonstrated, there is a lack in the understanding of the mass and heat transport processes. We have developed a 3-D, non-isothermal, macro-homogeneous numerical model focusing on one interface between a HPIL and an anode gas flow channel (AGFC). In the base case model, water evaporates within a thin film adjacent to the interfaces of the HPIL with the AGFC and with the hydrophobic anode GDL. The largest part of the generated water vapor leaves the cell via the AGFC. The transport to the cathode side is shown to be partly limited by the ab-/desorption into/from the membrane. The cooling due to the latent heat has a strong effect on the local evaporation rate. An increase of the mass transfer coefficient for evaporation leads to a transport limited regime inside the MEA while the transport via the AGFC is limited by evaporation kinetics.

Automated summary

Evaporative cooling based on HPILs modified GDLs in proton exchange membrane fuel cells has been studied through a numerical model. The model reveals that the majority of water vapor leaves the cell via AGFC and the transport to the cathode side is limited by the membrane.