A proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) must maintain a balance between the hydration level required for efficient proton transfer and excess liquid water that can impede the flow of gases to the electrodes where the reactions take place. Therefore, it is critically important to understand the two-phase flow of liquid water combined with either the co-flowing hydrogen (anode) or air (cathode) streams. In this paper, we describe the design of an in-situ test apparatus that enables investigation of two-phase channel flow within PEMFCs, including the flow of water from the porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the channel gas flows; the flow of water within the bipolar plate channels themselves; and the dynamics of flow through multiple channels connected to common manifolds which maintain a uniform pressure differential across all possible flow paths. These two-phase flow effects have been studied at relatively low operating temperatures under steady-state conditions and during transient air purging sequences.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2008 6th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels
June 23–25, 2008
Darmstadt, Germany
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-4834-5
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Two-Phase Flow Considerations in PEMFC Design and Operation
Jon P. Owejan,
Jon P. Owejan
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Jeffrey J. Gagliardo,
Jeffrey J. Gagliardo
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Jacqueline M. Sergi,
Jacqueline M. Sergi
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Thomas A. Trabold
Thomas A. Trabold
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Search for other works by this author on:
Jon P. Owejan
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Jeffrey J. Gagliardo
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Jacqueline M. Sergi
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Thomas A. Trabold
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Paper No:
ICNMM2008-62037, pp. 1733-1740; 8 pages
Published Online:
June 11, 2009
Citation
Owejan, JP, Gagliardo, JJ, Sergi, JM, & Trabold, TA. "Two-Phase Flow Considerations in PEMFC Design and Operation." Proceedings of the ASME 2008 6th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels. ASME 2008 6th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels. Darmstadt, Germany. June 23–25, 2008. pp. 1733-1740. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICNMM2008-62037
Download citation file:
14
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Two-Phase Flow Maldistribution and Mitigation in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (August,2009)
Electrical Performance of PEM Fuel Cells With Different Gas Diffusion Layers
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (August,2011)
PEM Fuel Cell Dynamic Model With Phase Change Effect
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol (November,2005)
Related Chapters
Dynamic Behavior of Pumping Systems
Pipeline Pumping and Compression Systems: A Practical Approach
Test Methods
Consensus on Operating Practices for the Sampling and Monitoring of Feedwater and Boiler Water Chemistry in Modern Industrial Boilers (CRTD-81)
Later Single-Cylinder Engines
Air Engines: The History, Science, and Reality of the Perfect Engine