Analysis of thermal and water management with temperature-dependent diffusion effects in membrane of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In the present work, the detailed thermal and water management in the membrane of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC)
is investigated numerically. The coupling effects of mass diffusion and temperature gradient on the water distribution in the membrane
are taken into account with consideration of the temperature-dependent diffusivity. Thermal and water transport equations with various
boundary conditions are solved by the control volume finite difference method. Predictions show that under the conditions of fixed water
concentration at the cathode side, the effect of cathode temperature, Tc, on the water concentration is significant. Increases in Tc may lead
to an increase in membrane dehydration. At the water-flux condition on the cathode side, the influence of the operating temperature on
the water distribution in the membrane shows a similar trend. The effects of the anode temperature, Ta, on the water management in the
membrane are also examined. It is found that Ta has considerable impact on the water content in the membrane. In addition, high current
density may cause non-uniformity of the temperature distribution in the membrane.
uncorrected proof. journal of power sources xxx (2003) xxx–xxx. 3. analysis of thermal & water management with temperature-dependent. diffusion effects in membrane of proton exchange membrane fuel cells