The performance of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell strongly depends on the nature of reactant distribution and the effectiveness of liquid water removal. In this work, three different configurations of a mixed flow distributor are studied analytically and numerically to find out the effect of nonuniform under-rib convection on reactant and liquid water distribution in the cell. In a mixed flow distributor, the rate of under-rib convection is found to be different under each rib in the same flow sector which results in different rates of removal of liquid water. This helps to retain some water to hydrate the membrane, whereas the excess is removed to avoid flooding. It is found that under-rib convection aids to get better reactant distribution, reduces pressure drop, and provides better control over liquid water removal which is helpful in developing efficient water management strategies for PEM fuel cells.
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August 2015
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research-Article
The Effect of Nonuniform Under-Rib Convection on Reactant and Liquid Water Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
P. K. Jithesh,
P. K. Jithesh
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
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T. Sundararajan,
T. Sundararajan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
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Sarit K. Das
Sarit K. Das
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: skdas@iitm.ac.in
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
e-mail: skdas@iitm.ac.in
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
P. K. Jithesh
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
T. Sundararajan
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
Sarit K. Das
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: skdas@iitm.ac.in
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
,Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600036
, India
e-mail: skdas@iitm.ac.in
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Advanced Energy Systems Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF FUEL CELL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. Manuscript received February 3, 2014; final manuscript received March 2, 2015; published online May 27, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Abel Hernandez-Guerrero.
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Aug 2015, 12(4): 041003 (8 pages)
Published Online: August 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
February 3, 2014
Revision Received:
March 2, 2015
Online:
May 27, 2015
Citation
Jithesh, P. K., Sundararajan, T., and Das, S. K. (August 1, 2015). "The Effect of Nonuniform Under-Rib Convection on Reactant and Liquid Water Distribution in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. August 2015; 12(4): 041003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4030514
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