Numerical simulation of a new water management for PEM fuel cell using magnet particles deposited in the cathode side catalyst layer

Cathode flooding caused by excessive liquid water is generally recognized as the primary reason for poor cell performance. Recently, when some magnet particles are deposited in the catalyst layer of a cathode and magnetized, the cell performance has been improved compared with that of non-magnetized case. Numerical simulation to explain this phenomenon shows (1) the repulsive Kelvin force caused by the magnet particles manages the liquid water flow in the porous electrode layer; (2) the saturation level of liquid water (s) near the catalyst interface decreases with increasing the residual magnetic flux density of the magnet particle (B-r); (3) the magnet particles improves the fuel cell performance by decreasing the value of s and making more pore space for oxygen gas, and the cell performance of a proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel is improved in the current limited region. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.