Straubhaar, Benjamin.
Pore network modelling of condensation in gas diffusion layers of proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
PhD, Dynamique des fluides, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, 2015
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Abstract
A Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is a device converting hydrogen into electricity thanks to an electrochemical reaction called reverse electrolysis. Like every fuel cell or battery, PEMFCs are made of a series of layers. We are interested in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) on the cathode side. The GDL is made of carbon fibers treated hydrophobic. It can be seen as a thin porous medium with a mean pore size of few tens of microns. A key question in this system is the management of the water produced by the reaction. In this context, the main objective of the thesis is the development of a numerical tool aiming at simulating the liquid water formation within the GDL. A pore network approach is used. We concentrate on a scenario where liquid water forms in the GDL by condensation. Comparisons between simulations and experiments performed with a two-dimensional microfluidic device are first presented for different wettability conditions, temperature distributions and inlet relative humidity in order to validate the model. A sensitivity study is then performed to better characterize the parameters controlling the water invasion. Finally, simulations are compared with in situ experimental water distributions obtained by X-ray micro-tomography as well as with experimental distributions from the literature obtained by neutron imaging.
Item Type: | PhD Thesis |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | |
Institution: | Université de Toulouse > Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse - Toulouse INP (FRANCE) |
Laboratory name: | |
Research Director: | Prat, Marc |
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Deposited On: | 01 Dec 2017 10:00 |
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