In this study, selleck chem Pacritinib we attempt to develop a together fully three dimensional computational model for PEMFC which can deal with both anode and cathode Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries micro flow fields. A commercial program FLUENT (version Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries 6.3) was modified using User Defined Function to simulate three dimensional micro flow fields with MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), which consists of membrane and two electrode with dispersed Pt catalyst. Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries The pressure drops and concentration distributions of reactants and product along the micro channel, water transport though MEA and channel, and current-voltage performance of the fuel cell were calculated through Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries the three dimensional numerical simulation in this study.2.?Numerical Models2.1.
Model assumptionsGoverning equations for calculating the fully three dimensional flow field are expressed under following assumptions.
1)The gas mixture is incompressible, ideal fluid2)The flow in the flow channel is laminar3)Isothermal Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries condition4)Butler – Volmer kinetics for electrochemical reaction rate2.2. Governing equation1) Mass conservation equation??(?��u?)=Sm(1)where Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries �� is the porosity of the porous media, which is equal to unit for the gas channels, �� the density, and the intrinsic fluid velocity vector, ��, reflects the superficial velocity in the porous media. Sm denotes source terms corresponding to the consumption of hydrogen and oxygen in the anode and cathode, and the production of water in the cathode.
Sm=SH2+Saw:Anode SideSm=SO2+Saw:Cathode Side(2)2) Momentum conservation equationThe fluid flow in the fuel cell can be described Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries by the general equation as:?(?��u?u?)=???p+?(?��?u?)+Su(3)where �� denotes the pressure, �� the effective viscous coefficient.
Because Inhibitors,Modulators,Libraries the fluid flowing in the channels, gas diffusion layers and catalyst layer, membrane is different �� stand for gas viscous GSK-3 coefficient for gas mixture in the channel and gas diffusion layer, and liquid viscous coefficient for liquid in the catalyst layer and membrane. Furthermore, mass-weighted mixing law gives viscosity of the gaseous mixture. The source terms in the momentum equations are added based on the Darcy’s law, representing an extra drag force in the equation as follows:Sux=?��u��xSuy=?��u��y,Suz=?��u��z(4)3) Species conservation equationThe species conservation equation for the gas mixture is?(?u?Ck)=?(Dkeff?Ck)+Sk(5)Here, k denotes chemical species that include hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and water.
Dkeff is Brefeldin_A the effective diffusion coefficient. Source term Sk denotes,Sk={?I(x,y)2FMH2Acv:SH2?a(x,y)FI(x,y)MH2OAcv:SaW?I(x,y)4FMO2Acv:SO21+2a(x,y)2FI(x,y)MH2OAcv:ScW(6)where selleck U0126 MH2, MH2O and MO2 are the molecular kinase inhibitor Imatinib Mesylate weight of hydrogen, water and oxygen.2.3. Water transport equationWater management is a critical issue for the performance of a proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell.