Pore-Scale Modeling of Air–Water Two Phase Flow and Oxygen Transport in Gas Diffusion Layer of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Understanding multiphase flow and gas transport occurring in electrodes is crucial for improving the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. In present study, a pore-scale model using lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was proposed to study coupled processes air–water two-phase oxygen reactive porous structures diffusion layer (GDL) fractures microscopic (MPL). Three-dimensional numerical results show that liquid water generation rate gradually reduced as consumption reaction proceeds, saturation GDL increases, thus constant velocity inlet or pressure condition cannot be maintained while showed at t = 1,200,000 iterations after 2900 h running time, local GDL/MPL about 0.7, maximum value 0.83, total 0.35. The current density from 2.39 0.46 A cm?2. Effects fracture number were also investigated, numbers 8, 12, 16, 24, breakthrough point 4, 3, 2, respectively. As increased, points GDL/GC interface decreased, inside more seriously covered, decreased. helpful understanding mechanisms PEMFC.