Inlet/Outlet Manifold Performance Design Improvements for Pem Fuel Cells;Final rept. 15 Jun 03-15 Jun 04

摘要

A three-dimensional triple pass PEMFC model is developed with 25.079-cm2-membrane area with 11-triple serpentine flow channels. Model consists of two flow channels separated by diffusion layers and MEA. There are twenty serpentine passes in the flow path, so that the flow is approximately sixty centimeters long in the axial direction with 0.1 (height) x 0.08 (width) sq. cm2 cross-section flow area. Each diffusion layer has dimension of 0.025 (height) x 3.20 (width) x 3.20 (length) cu. Cm3. A total of 34X200X28 cells (elements) are used to model the fuel cell. The transport of water and proton is simulated by source terms in control volumes in contact with the membrane. Four different inlet/outlet flow configurations are envisioned. To include the effects of sub-gaskets on the performance of the fuel cell under various inlet/outlet configurations, 4,472-cm by 4,472-cm sub-gaskets are included on both sides of the membrane. The sub-gasket reduces the active membrane area to 19.278-cm2. Fine grid spacing is incorporated in the inlet and outlet regions in all three dimensions to capture the possible effects of the different inlet/outlet manifold designs.