Using a Quasipotential Transformation for Modeling Diffusion Media inPolymer-Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Journal Article · Fri Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics

OSTI ID:937580

Weber, Adam Z; Newman, John

In this paper, a quasipotential approach along with conformal mapping is used to model the diffusion media of a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell. This method provides a series solution that is grid independent and only requires integration along a single boundary to solve the problem. The approach accounts for nonisothermal phenomena, two-phase flow, correct placement of the electronic potential boundary condition, and multilayer media. The method is applied to a cathode diffusion medium to explore the interplay between water and thermal management and performance, the impact of the rib-to-channel ratio, and the existence of diffusion under the rib and flooding phenomena.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Environmental Energy Technologies Division
• DOE Contract Number: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 937580
• Report Number(s): LBNL-946E; SMJMAP; TRN: US200819%%266
• Journal Information: SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics, Journal Name: SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics; ISSN 0036-1399
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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42
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BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
CATHODES
CONFORMAL MAPPING
DIFFUSION
FUEL CELLS
MANAGEMENT
PERFORMANCE
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
SIMULATION
TRANSFORMATIONS
TWO-PHASE FLOW
WATER
Modeling
fuel cell
gas-diffusion layer
cathode
water management