Numerical Simulations of Droplets on Porous Structures by Use of Lattice Boltzmann Method

This paper demonstrates numerical simulations of droplet on gas diffusion layer of the polymer electrolyte fuel cell. The lattice Boltzmann method for incompressible two-phase flows at high density ratios were applied for the simulations in order to precisely predict the shape and moving velocity of water droplet surrounding by the air in the gas channel. Simulations were conducted in 2D and 3D and height and moving velocity of droplet were compared with experiment as a function of mean gas velocity in the gas channel. The droplet heights by the simulations were qualitatively agreed with the experimental data, while the simulation results of moving speed of droplet somewhat overestimated the experimental results.