Modeling and Optimization of non - isothermal two- phase flow in the cathode gas diffusion layer of PEM fuel cell

Abstract

In this paper, a non-isothermal two-phase flow in the cathode gas diffusion layer (GDL) of PEM fuel cell is modeled. The governing equations including energy, mass and momentum conservation equations are solved by numerical methods. Also, the optimal values of the effective parameters such as the electrodes porosity, gas diffusion layer (GDL) thickness and inlet relative humidity are calculated using the optimization algorithms. Optimization is done by considering the fuel cell voltage as the objective function. The results show that by increasing the relative humidity of the air, the rate of evaporation in cathode GDL and temperature distribution across the fuel cell decreases. Among the different methods of optimization, the best method for two phase flow is Simulated Annealing algorithm. Optimum porosity of the electrodes, GDL thickness and relative humidity are obtained 0.44, 0.24 mm and 99%, respectively. The fuel cell power density at optimum condition increased 6% compared to the base condition.