Effects of metal foam properties on flow and water distribution in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs)

Using a two-phase polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) model, we numerically investigated the influence of metal foam porous properties and wettability on key species and current distributions within a PEFC. Three-dimensional simulations were conducted under practical low humidity inlet hydrogen and air gases, and numerical comparisons were made for different metal foam design variables. These simulations were conducted to elucidate the detailed operating characteristics of PEFCs using metal foams as a flow distributor, and the simulation results showed that two-phase transport and the resulting flooding behavior in a PEFC are influenced by both the metal foam porous properties and the porous properties of an adjacent layer (e.g., the gas diffusion layer). This paper offers basic directions to design metal foams for optimal water management of PEFCs.