Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Water Transport Dynamics in Fuel Cell Micro-Channels

  • Conference paper
Mini-Micro Fuel Cells

The formation, phase change and transport of water have a major impact on the operation, performance and durability of PEM fuel cells, specifically in terms of start up, including freeze-start, transient response and degradation. Net water balance is primarily determined by the water production rate at the cathode, and transport across the membrane via diffusion and electro-osmotic drag. At higher currents, excessive water condensation can lead to ‘flooding’ of the cathode porous layers. Eventually, discrete water droplets can emerge through the pores of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) into the air distribution micro-channels. Such droplets may grow and coalesce, partially or completely blocking the transport pathways for the reactant (particularly oxygen), and also causing a substantial increase in pressure drop. The resulting starvation of the reaction sites induces dips in current density as well as flow maldistribution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. J.J. Kowal, A. Turhan, K. Heller, J. Brenizer and M.M. Mench, Liquid Water Storage, Distribution, and Removal from Diffusion Media in PEFCS, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 153(10), A1971-A1978 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Taniguchi, T. Akita, K. Yasuda and Y. Miyazaki, Analysis of Electrocatalyst Degradation in PEMFC Caused by Cell Reversal During Fuel Starvation, Journal of Power Sources, 130, 42-49 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. X.G. Yang, F.Y. Zhang, A.L. Lubawy and C.Y. Wang, Visualization of Liquid Water Transport in a PEFC, Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters, 7, A408-A411 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. K. Tüber, D. Pocza and C. Hebling, Visualization of Water Buildup in the Cathode of a Transparent PEM Fuel Cell, Journal of Power Sources, 124, 403-414 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. X. Zhu, P. C. Sui and N. Djilali, Numerical Simulation of Emergence of a Water Droplet from a Pore into a Microchannel Gas Stream, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, in press/online (2008).

    Google Scholar 

  6. M.M. Mench, Q.L. Dong and C.-Y. Wang, In Situ Water Distribution Measurements in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell, Journal of Power Sources, 124, 90-98 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. K. Sugiura, M. Nakata, T. Yodo, Y. Nishiguchi, M. Yamauchi and Y. Itoh, Evaluation of a Cathode Gas Channel with a Water Absorption Layer/Waste Channel in a PEFC by using Visualization Technique, Journal of Power Sources, 145, 526-533 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. F.-B. Weng, A. Su, C.-Y. Hsu and C.-Y. Lee. Study of Water-Flooding Behaviour in Cathode Channel of a Transparent Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Journal of Power Sources, 157, 674-680 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. R. Satija, D.L. Jacobson, M. Arif and S.A. Werner, In Situ Neutron Imaging Technique for Evaluation of Water Management Systems in Operating PEM fuel cells, Journal of Power Sources, 129, 238-245 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. D. Kramer, J. Zhang, R. Shimoi, E. Lehmann, A. Wokaun, K. Shinohara and G.G. Scherer, In Situ Diagnostic of Two-Phase Flow Phenomena in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells by Neutron Imaging. Part A. Experimental, Data Treatment, and Quantification, Electrochimica Acta, 50, 2603-2614 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M.A. Hickner, N.P. Siegel, K.S. Chen, D.N. McBrayer, D.S. Hussey, D.L. Jacobson and M. Arif, Real-time Imaging of Liquid Water in an Operating Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 153(5), A902-A908 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. N. Pekula, K. Heller, P.A. Chuang, A. Turhan, M.M. Mench, J.S. Brenizer and K. Unlu, Study of Water Distribution and Transport in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Using Neutron Imaging, Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A, 542, 134-141 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. A. Hakenjos, H. Muenter, U. Wittstadt and C. Hebling, A PEM Fuel Cell for Combined Measurement of Current and Temperature Distribution, and Flow Field Flooding, Journal of Power Sources, 131, 213-216 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. K.W. Feindel, S.H. Bergens and R.H. Wasylishen, The Use of H NMR Microscopy to Study Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, ChemPhysChem, 7, 67-75 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. S. Tsushima, K. Teranishi, K. Nishida and S. Hirai, Water Content Distribution in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for Advanced Fuel Cell System with Liquid Water Supply, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, 23, 255-258 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. I. Manke, Ch. Hartnig, M. Grunerbel, W. Lehnert, K. Kardjilov, A. Haibel, A. Hilger, J. Banhart and H. Riesemeier, Investigation of Water Evolution and Transport in Fuel Cells with High Resolution Synchrotron X-Ray Radiography, Applied Physics Letters, 90 (17), Art. No. 174105 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  17. S. Litster, D. Sinton and N. Djilali, Ex Situ Visualization of Liquid Water Transport in PEM Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers, Journal of Power Sources, 154, 95-105 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. A. Bazylak, D. Sinton, Z.S. Liu and N. Djilali, Effect of Compression on Liquid Water Transport and Microstructure of PEMFC Gas Diffusion Layers, Journal of Power Sources, 163(2), 784-792 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. G. Minor, Experimental Study of Water Droplet Flows in a Model PEM Fuel Cell Gas Microchannel, MASc Thesis, University of Victoria, Canada 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  20. E.C. Kumbur, K.V. Sharp and M.M. Mench, Liquid Drop Behavior and Instability in a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Flow Channel, Journal of Power Sources, 161, 333-345 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. K.S. Chen, M.A. Hickner and D.R. Noble, Simplified Models for Predicting the Onset of Liquid Water Droplet Instability at the Gas Diffusion Layer/Gas Flow Channel Interface, International Journal Energy Research, 29, 1113-1132 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Z.H. Wang, C.Y. Wang, and K.S. Chen, Two-Phase Flow and Transport in the Air Cathode af Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, Journal of Power Sources, 94(1), 40-50 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. L.X. You and H.T. Liu, A Two-Phase Flow and Transport Model for PEM Fuel Cells, Journal of Power Sources, 155(2), 219-230 2006.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  24. T. Berning and N. Djilali, A 3D, Multiphase, Multicomponent Model of the Cathode and Anode of a PEM Fuel Cell, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 150(12), A1589-A1598 2003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. U. Pasaogullari and C.-Y. Wang, Liquid Water Transport in Gas Diffusion Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 151(3), A399-A406 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. P. Quan, B. Zhou, A. Sobiesiak and Z.S. Liu, Water Behavior in Serpentine Micro-Channel for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Cathode, Journal of Power Sources, 152(1), 131-145 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. K. Jiao, B. Zhou and P. Quan, Liquid Water Transport in Parallel Serpentine Channels with Manifolds on Cathode Side of a PEM Fuel Cell Stack, Journal of Power Sources, 157, 124-137 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. A. Theodorakakos, T. Ous, A. Gavaises, J.M. Nouri, N. Nikolopoulos and H. Yanagihara, Dynamics of Water Droplets Detached from Porous Surfaces of Relevance to PEM Fuel Cells, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 300, 673-687 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. X. Zhu, P.C. Sui and N. Djilali, Dynamic Behaviour of Liquid Water Emerging from a GDL Pore into a PEMFC Gas Flow Channel, Journal of Power Sources, 172(1), 287-295 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. D. Sinton, Microscale Flow Visualization, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 1, 2-21 2004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. G. Minor, P. Oshkai and N. Djilali, Optical Distortion Correction for Liquid Droplet Visualization using the Ray Tracing Method: Further Considerations, Measurement Science and Technology, 18(11), L23-L28 2007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. LaVision, Device-Manual for Davis 7.0: Micro PIV. Göttingen, Germany 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  33. J.U. Brackbill, D.B. Kothe and C. Zemach, A Continuum Method for Modeling Surface-Tension, Journal of Computational Physics, 100, 335-354 1992.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  34. D.L. Youngs, Time-Dependent Multi-Material Flow with Large Fluid Distortion, Academic Press, New York, 273-285 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  35. A. Bazylak, D. Sinton and N. Djilali, Dynamic Water Transport and Droplet Emergence In PEMFC Gas Diffusion Layers, Journal of Power Sources, 176(1), 240-246, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5J 5J8

    G. Minor

  2. Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    X. Zhu

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering & Institute for Integrated Energy Systems, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3P6, Canada

    P. Oshkai, P. C. Sui & N. Djilali

Authors
  1. G. Minor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. X. Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Oshkai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. C. Sui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Djilali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. TOBB University of Economics and Technology, Sögütözü, Ankara, Turkey

    S. Kakaç

  2. Kasetsart University, Chalermphrakiat Sakonnakhon Province Campus, Sakonnakhon, Thailand

    A. Pramuanjaroenkij

  3. Luikov Heat & Mass Transfer Institute, Minsk, Belarus

    L. Vasiliev

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

About this paper

Cite this paper

Minor, G., Zhu, X., Oshkai, P., Sui, P.C., Djilali, N. (2008). Water Transport Dynamics in Fuel Cell Micro-Channels. In: Kakaç, S., Pramuanjaroenkij, A., Vasiliev, L. (eds) Mini-Micro Fuel Cells. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8295-5_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8295-5_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8293-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8295-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation