modelAnFP

Anode flow plate

Extends from Region (Base model for a 3D array of subregions).

Information

This model represents the anode flow plate of a PEMFC. The x axis extends from the anode to the cathode. Fluid is considered to travel in the y direction, with the associated length factor (ky) greater than one (by default) to represent a serpentine channel. The model is bidirectional, meaning that either yNegative or yPositive can be used as the inlet. By default, the cross-sectional area in the yz plane is 50 cm2.

The solid and the fluid phases are assumed to exist in the same subregions, even though a typical flow plate is impermeable to the fluid (except for the channel). In theory, it is possible to discretize the flow plate into smaller subregions for the bulk solid, lands, and valleys. However, this would significantly increase the mathematical size of the model. Currently, that level of detail is best left to computational fluid dynamics.

The x component of the transport factor (kx) for the gas and the liquid should generally be less than one because the transport distance into/out of the GDL is less that half the thickness of the flow plate. It is equal to the product of two ratios:

  1. the depth of the channels to the thickness of the flow plate
  2. the product of the total area of the flow plate in the yz plane (land + valleys) and the fraction of the total volume available for the fluid (ε) to the area of the valleys in the yz plane

See Species.'C+'.Graphite.Fixed regarding the default specific heat capacity. The default thermal resistivity of the carbon (θ = U.m*U.K/(95*U.W)) and the electrical conductivity (σ = U.S/(1.470e-3*U.cm)) are that of Entegris/Poco Graphite AXF-5Q [Entegris2012]. There is additional data in the text layer of this model.

For more information, please see the Region model.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Integern_x (from Region)size(L_x, 1)Number of sets of subregions along the x axis
Integern_y (from Region)size(L_y, 1)Number of sets of subregions along the y axis
Integern_z (from Region)size(L_z, 1)Number of sets of subregions along the z axis
Q.Length[Axis]L (from Region){sum(L_x), sum(L_y), sum(L_z)}Length
Q.Area[Axis]A (from Region){L[cartWrap(axis + 1)]*L[cartWrap(axis + 2)] for axis in Axis}Cross-sectional areas
Q.VolumeV (from Region)product(L)Volume
Q.LengthD0.937*U.mmHydraulic diameter of the channel
Q.LengthL_channel162.4*U.cmLength of the channel
Geometry
Q.Length[:]L_x (from Region){U.cm}Lengths along the x axis
Q.Length[:]L_y (from Region){U.cm}Lengths along the y axis
Q.Length[:]L_z (from Region){U.cm}Lengths across the z axis
Q.NumberAbsoluteepsilon0.0588Fraction of volume for the fluid
Assumptions › Included transport axes
BooleaninclTransX (from Region)trueX
BooleaninclTransY (from Region)trueY
BooleaninclTransZ (from Region)trueZ

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_y,n_z]xNegative (from Region)Negative boundary along the x axis
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_y,n_z]xPositive (from Region)Positive boundary along the x axis
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_x,n_z]yNegative (from Region)Negative boundary along the y axis
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_x,n_z]yPositive (from Region)Positive boundary along the y axis
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_x,n_y]zNegative (from Region)Negative boundary along the z axis
Connectors.BoundaryBus[n_x,n_y]zPositive (from Region)Positive boundary along the z axis

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Subregion[n_x,n_y,n_z]subregions (from Region)Instances of the subregion model