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Numerical simulation of condensate removal from gas channels of PEM fuel cells using corrugated walls
Author(s) -
ElDosoky Mohammed,
Ahmed Mahmoud,
Ashgriz Nasser
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.3962
Subject(s) - inlet , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , mechanics , work (physics) , channel (broadcasting) , flow (mathematics) , chemistry , current (fluid) , membrane , thermodynamics , engineering , electrical engineering , physics , mechanical engineering , biochemistry
Summary The removal of condensate water droplets from gas channels is necessary for proper operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In the current work, it is shown that corrugated wall gas channels can help in the removal of condensate water droplets formed on the channel walls. Removal of sessile droplets from channels having semicircle, rectangular dent, and saw‐tooth corrugation and at different gas velocities is modeled numerically. It is shown that the time of condensate removal is much shorter in a corrugated channel as compared with that in an uncorrugated channel. Three different droplet removal regimes are identified: droplet, film, and misty flow regimes. The transition from one to another regime is mapped based on the inlet flow velocity and the type of the channel corrugate.