Lattice Boltzmann method simulating the integrated cathode of a PEMFC

Due to its slow kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and mass transport limitations, air cathode is a main limiting factor to performance of PEMFC. Simulations at pore-scale will provide detailed information of fluid flows and mass transports in the cathode of a PEMFC. In this paper, for the first time the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to investigate the fluid flow, species concentration distribution, current densities distribution and potential distribution in the cathode of a PEMFC. The two-dimensional computation domain is a cathode including a straight GC (GC), a porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) with micro-blocks and a CL (CL). Using the VCCP-LBM (velocity-concentration-current-potential-Lattice Boltzmann method) codes developed by us, in which some skills are adopted to couple the solutions of mass transports and proton conduct, detailed flow field, species concentration distribution, current densities distribution and potential distribution are obtained under different over potentials. Effects of local porous structures on flow field, species concentration distribution, current densities distribution and potential distribution are discussed.