Effect of Gas Diffusion Layer Surface Wettability Gradient on Water Behavior in a Serpentine Gas Flow Channel of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

Water removal and behavior, in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) gas flow channel has been investigated in this work. Single serpentine gas flow channel has been simulated. Hydrodynamics of water drops in a serpentine channel are studied as a function of nature of gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface wettability. In one case, the surface becomes gradually hydrophobic starting from 90 deg to 170 deg. In this second case, the value of contact angle reduces to 10 deg. A three-dimensional model has been developed by using CFD software. Two different drop of diameter 0.2mm and 0.4mm are simulated for all the cases. It is observed that, water coverage is always lesser for a gradual hydrophobic surface. Also at low air velocity and gradual hydrophobic GDL surface results in lesser pressure drop as well as water coverage. Copyright © 2018 by ASME.