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Modeling fluid flow in the gas diffusion layers in PEMFC using the multiple relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method
journal contribution
posted on 2012-10-02, 10:30 authored by Yuan Gao, Xiaoxian Zhang, Pratap Rama, Ying Liu, Rui Chen, Hossein Ostadi, Kyle JiangThe gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are key components in proton
exchange membrane fuel cells and understanding fluid
flow through them plays a significant role in improving fuel
cell performance. In this paper we used a combination of
multiple-relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method and imaging
technology to simulate fluid flow through the void
space in a carbon paper GDL. The micro-structures of the
GDL were obtained by digitizing 3D images acquired by Xray
computed micro-tomography at a resolution of 1.76 lm,
and fluid flow through the structures was simulated by
applying pressure gradient in both through-plane and inplane
directions, respectively. The simulated velocity field at
micron scale was then used to estimate the anisotropic permeability
of the GDL. To test the method, we simulated fluid
flow in a column packed with glass beads and the estimated
permeability was found to be in good agreement with The gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are key components in proton
exchange membrane fuel cells and understanding fluid
flow through them plays a significant role in improving fuel
cell performance. In this paper we used a combination of
multiple-relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method and imaging
technology to simulate fluid flow through the void
space in a carbon paper GDL. The micro-structures of the
GDL were obtained by digitizing 3D images acquired by Xray
computed micro-tomography at a resolution of 1.76 lm,
and fluid flow through the structures was simulated by
applying pressure gradient in both through-plane and inplane
directions, respectively. The simulated velocity field at
micron scale was then used to estimate the anisotropic permeability
of the GDL. To test the method, we simulated fluid
flow in a column packed with glass beads and the estimated
permeability was found to be in good agreement with The gas diffusion layers (GDLs) are key components in proton
exchange membrane fuel cells and understanding fluid
flow through them plays a significant role in improving fuel
cell performance. In this paper we used a combination of
multiple-relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method and imaging
technology to simulate fluid flow through the void
space in a carbon paper GDL. The micro-structures of the
GDL were obtained by digitizing 3D images acquired by Xray
computed micro-tomography at a resolution of 1.76 lm,
and fluid flow through the structures was simulated by
applying pressure gradient in both through-plane and inplane
directions, respectively. The simulated velocity field at
micron scale was then used to estimate the anisotropic permeability
of the GDL. To test the method, we simulated fluid
flow in a column packed with glass beads and the estimated
permeability was found to be in good agreement with experimental measurements. The simulated results for the
GDL revealed that the increase of permeability with porosity
was well fitted by the model of Tomadakis–Sotirchos [48]
without fitting parameters. The permeability calculated
using fluids with different viscosities indicated that the multiple-
relaxation time lattice Boltzmann method provides
robust solutions, giving a viscosity-independent permeability.
This is a significant improvement over the commonly
used single-time relaxation lattice Boltzmann model which
was found to give rise to a unrealistic viscosity-dependent
permeability because of its inaccuracy in solving the fluid–
solid boundaries.
History
School
- Aeronautical, Automotive, Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department
- Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering
Citation
GAO, Y. ... et al, 2012. Modeling fluid flow in the gas diffusion layers in PEMFC using the multiple relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method. Fuel Cells, 12 (3), pp.365-381.Publisher
© WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA,WeinheimVersion
- NA (Not Applicable or Unknown)
Publication date
2012Notes
This article is closed access.ISSN
1615-6846Publisher version
Language
- en