A novel agglomerate model for the cathode catalyst layer of a PEMFC based on LBM

Lattice Boltzmann method is a relatively new microscalemodeling technique for complex fluid systems thatoffers several advantages over more conventionalnumerical methods and hence has attracted interest ofresearchers. However, lattice Boltzmann modeling ofproton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)electrodes has faced with some challenges in tacklingelectrochemical reaction in the catalyst layer (CL). Inthe present study, a novel two-dimensional single-phaselattice Boltzmann agglomerate model of the cathode CLof a PEMFC is developed. The proposed model can beadopted to simulate reactive flow in a cathode CL with acomplicated arrangement of agglomerates representing arealistic microstructure of a CL. Different aspects of thepresented model are validated through analyticalrelations. Afterwards, the reactive air flow in a cathodeelectrode is simulated through a multi-scale latticeBoltzmann approach and some primary results arepresented.

کلیدواژه ها:

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell(PEMFC) ، lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) ، agglomeratemodel ، electrochemical reaction ، catalyst layer (CL).