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Model ID: 260

Species Transport in the Gas Diffusion Layers of a PEM

This example focuses on the species transport within the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The geometry models a cell with two adjacent flow channels of different pressures, a situation that may occur in a cell with serpentine flow channels, or in a cell using a interdigitated flow field design. The model uses current balances, mass transport equations (Maxwell-Stefan diffusion for reactants, water and nitrogen gas), and momentum transport (Darcy’s law for the gas flows) to simulate a PEM fuel cell’s behavior.

Water mass fraction in the anode (left, surface plot) and the cathode (right, contour plot). The arrows visualize the diffusive flux vector field on the anode side.

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