Conference proceeding
Factors Impacting Liquid Droplet Instability in a PEFC Flow Channel
ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B, v 2006
01 Jan 2006
Abstract
To achieve optimal performance with minimal parasitic losses and degradation, the relationship between water removal parameters such as flow rate and the diffusion media (DM) surface properties must be clearly identified. An extensive experimental study of the influence of controllable engineering parameters, including surface PTFE (Teflon™) coverage (ranging from 5% to 20% of wt.) and operational air flow rate, on liquid droplet deformation at the interface of the DM and the gas flow channel was performed. A new visualization technique was developed to better understand the droplet mechanisms with enhanced optical access of both side and top views of the flow channel of a simulated H2 PEFC. A telecentric lens and 5 mm by 5 mm prisms embedded in the flow channel side walls were used for the first time to measure droplet receding and advancing surface angles in an enclosed flow channel. The influence of channel air flow rate and emerging droplet size on droplet characteristics with varying PTFE content in the DM was investigated to identify the conditions under which the droplet tends toward an unstable state. The results indicate that operational conditions, droplet height, chord length, and level of surface hydrophobicity of the DM directly affect the droplet instability. At high flow rates, the surface hydrophobicity of the DM enhances the efficacy of droplet removal, and helps to avoid local channel flooding, however at low flow rates, regardless of the amount of PTFE content, droplet instability (and removal) is unaffected by the DM surface PTFE content.
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Details
- Title
- Factors Impacting Liquid Droplet Instability in a PEFC Flow Channel
- Creators
- Emin Caglan Kumbur - Pennsylvania State UniversityKendra Vail Sharp - Pennsylvania State UniversityMatthew Michael Mench - Pennsylvania State University
- Publication Details
- ASME 2006 Fourth International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, Parts A and B, v 2006
- Conference
- ASME 2006 4th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, 4th (Irvine, California, United States, 19 Jun 2006–21 Jun 2006)
- Publisher
- ASMEDC
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-33845771782
- Other Identifier
- 991020550345604721