Numerical analysis on the effect of voltage change on removing condensed water inside the GDL of a PEM fuel cell

Decreasing the voltage of a fuel cell through hydrogen mixing or using low-air stoichiometry ratio is beneficial to remove condensed water inside GDL under flooding condition. In this study, the effect of voltage level of a fuel cell on water distribution in GDL under flooding condition was numerically analyzed. Water content in GDL was dependent on the voltage level of a fuel cell, that is, the water content was low when the cell voltage was maintained low. The effect of voltage change under flooding condition was also simulated. The flow rate of condensed water inside GDL considerably increased immediately after decreasing the cell voltage. The oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer was increased by decreasing the voltage of the fuel cell. Consequently, the cell voltage was recovered. Therefore, decreasing cell voltage under flooding condition can facilitate removal of condensed water in GDL.