Investigation of Two-Phase Flow in a Hydrophobic Fuel-Cell Micro-Channel

N. Ibrahim-Rassoul, E.-K. Si-Ahmed, A. Serir, A. Kessi, J. Legrand and N. Djilali
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N. Ibrahim-Rassoul: Faculty of Physics Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, B.P. 32, El-Alia, Alger 16111, Algeria
E.-K. Si-Ahmed: Faculty of Physics Laboratory of Theoretical and Applied Fluid Mechanics, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, B.P. 32, El-Alia, Alger 16111, Algeria
A. Serir: Faculty of Electronics Laboratory Image Processing and Radiation, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, B.P. 32, El-Alia, Alger 16111, Algeria
A. Kessi: Faculty of Mathematics USTHB, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, B.P. 32, El-Alia, Alger 16111, Algeria
J. Legrand: GEPEA, CNRS, ONIRIS, Nantes University, UMR 6144, 37, Bd de l’Université, BP 406, 44602 Saint-Nazaire, France
N. Djilali: Institute for Integrated Energy Systems & Department Mechanical Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8W 3P6, Canada

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-32

Abstract: This paper presents a quantitative visualization study and a theoretical analysis of two-phase flow relevant to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in which liquid water management is critical to performance. Experiments were conducted in an air-flow microchannel with a hydrophobic surface and a side pore through which water was injected to mimic the cathode of a PEMFC. Four distinct flow patterns were identified: liquid bridge (plug), slug/plug, film flow, and water droplet flow under small Weber number conditions. Liquid bridges first evolve with quasi-static properties while remaining pinned; after reaching a critical volume, bridges depart from axisymmetry, block the flow channel, and exhibit lateral oscillations. A model that accounts for capillarity at low Bond number is proposed and shown to successfully predict the morphology, critical liquid volume and evolution of the liquid bridge, including deformation and complete blockage under specific conditions. The generality of the model is also illustrated for flow conditions encountered in the manipulation of polymeric materials and formation of liquid bridges between patterned surfaces. The experiments provide a database for validation of theoretical and computational methods.

Keywords: PEM fuel cell; two-phase flow; liquid bridge; visualization; mathematical modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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