Coupled FEM and CFD Modeling of Structure Deformation and Performance of PEMFC Considering the Effects of Membrane Water Content

Zizhe Dong, Yuwen Liu and Yanzhou Qin
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Zizhe Dong: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
Yuwen Liu: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
Yanzhou Qin: State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-19

Abstract: Based on a coupled finite element method (FEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, the structural deformation and performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) under different membrane water contents are studied. The water absorption behavior of the membrane is investigated experimentally to obtain its expansion coefficient with water content, and the Young’s modulus of the membrane and catalyst (CL) are obtained through a tensile experiment. The simulation results show that the deformation of the membrane increases with water content, and membrane swelling under the channel is larger than that under the rib, forming a surface bump under the channel. The structural changes caused by the membrane water content have little effect on the performance of PEMFC in the low-current density range; while its influence is significant in the medium- and high-current density range. A medium membrane water content value of 12 achieves the best fuel cell performance due to the balance of membrane resistance and mass transport.

Keywords: membrane swelling; membrane water content; structural deformation; membrane conductivity; mass transport; proton exchange membrane fuel cell (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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