Dynamic behavior of droplets in partially blocked channels of fuel cell
LIU Shuai， ZHANG Libin， PEI Hao， WANG Zhong， HE Ren
1. School of Automotive and Traffic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; 2. Suzhou Automotive Research Institute, Tsinghua University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215200, China
Abstract：To effectively remove liquid water in the channel, the effect of partial blockage in the fuel cell channel on the droplet transport process was investigated by the volume of fluid model (VOF) method, and the effects of blockage block shape parameters, droplet size and gas diffusion layer (GDL) surface wettability on the twophase transport characteristics in the channel were explored. The results show that the presence of block affects the droplet transport in the channel. The introduction of block can increase the droplet shear force in the y direction, which increases the droplet transport rate and facilitates the removal of liquid water from the GDL surface. As the blocking ratio and longitudinal ratio increase, the pressure drop in the channel is increased, and the droplet transport rate is accelerated. With the increasing of droplet diameter and contact angle of GDL surface, the droplet transport rate is increased. When the droplet diameter is 0.8 cm with the GDL surface contact angle of 150°, the droplet transport rate in the channel is fast.
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