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Effects of Compression on the Removal of Water Droplet from GDLs of PEM Fuel Cells
Author(s) -
Shojaeefard M. H.,
Molaeimanesh G. R.,
Moqaddari M. R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201900101
Subject(s) - proton exchange membrane fuel cell , contact angle , wetting , materials science , compression (physics) , composite material , gaseous diffusion , water transport , chemical engineering , fuel cells , environmental science , water flow , environmental engineering , engineering
Proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with a sound potential for employing in the propulsion systems of green vehicles are currently at a high stage of development. However, appropriate water management is crucial for further development of PEMFCs. In the current investigation, the role of gas diffusion layer (GDL) compression and wettability on the removal of a water droplet from different GDLs with dissimilar levels of compression (0%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) and wettability (contact angles of 80°, 105°, and 150°) is inspected by numerous 3D lattice Boltzmann simulations. The results of this study demonstrate that by increasing of compression level, the droplet ejection will be more probable. Besides, for hydrophobic GDLs (i.e., contact angles of 105° and 150°) adding compression will help the removal process, regardless of the compression amount. However, for the hydrophilic GDLs (contact angle of 80°) adding compression is not necessarily helpful.