Pore-Scale Modeling of Transport Phenomena in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Partha P. Mukherjee

Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, NM 87545, USA

E-mail: partham@lanl.gov

Ph: 505-606-1895

Abstract

In the present scenario of a global initiative toward sustainable energy future, the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has emerged as one of the most promising alternative energy conversion devices for various applications. Despite tremendous progress in recent years, a pivotal performance limitation in the PEFC comes from the cathode catalyst layer (CL) and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) owing to the underlying competing transport mechanisms as well as flooding phenomena due to liquid water. Although substantial research, both theoretical and experimental, has been conducted as far as the overall PEFC is concerned, there is serious paucity of fundamental understanding regarding the overall structure-transport-performance relation as well as underlying two-phase dynamics in the porous catalyst layer and the fibrous gas diffusion layer. In this talk, a pore-scale modeling framework will be presented in order to understand the underlying structural influence on the electrochemically coupled transport mechanisms, the two-phase dynamics and the performance of the PEFC electrode and backing layer.

Brief Bio

Partha P. Mukherjee received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) in December, 2007 and is affiliated with the Electrochemical Engine Center (ECEC), PSU. He holds a B.S. degree (1997) from University of North Bengal, India and a M.S. degree (1999) from Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur, India. He worked as a consulting engineer for four years in Fluent India Pvt. Ltd, a fully owned subsidiary of Ansys – Fluent, USA, prior to joining PSU in August, 2003. He joined Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in January, 2008. His research interests include transport and materials aspects of electrochemical energy systems and pore-scale modeling.