Lattice Gas Analysis on Two-Phase Flow in Cathode of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Available to Purchase

A numerical simulation system for the analysis of the transport phenomena inside the cathode electrode has been developed. The Lattice Gas Automaton (LGA) method is used for two-dimensional simulations to study the gas and water behaviors in the different type of flow passages. Three kinds of flow passage, the serpentine-type, the straight-type and the column-type are selected and their performances are compared. In this simulation, we shall consider the reaction between the proton and the oxygen as well as the water behaviors inside the separator flow-channel. The protons are supplied randomly at a constant rate on the flow-path surface, and the water is considered to be produced when the oxygen encounters to the proton. The transients of the reaction rate corresponding to the power generation are counted and the relation between the cell performance and the two-phase flow behaviors is investigated. The influence of hydrophobic and hydrophilic electrode on the cell performance is also studied. It is found that the serpentine-type flow is effective for the electric generation performance but induces the larger pressure loss. For the serpentine-type separator the hydrophobic electrode is effective for reducing the plugging phenomenon.