Abstract
By using a separate phase-flow method, we have studied numerically the effects of the temperature on two-phase transport phenomena in the porous cathode of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The startup of the two-phase regime is controlled by a threshold current density which indicates the emergence of the liquid phase. The mass conservation equations are solved using the control volume finite element (CVFE) method. Electrochemical responses of the PEMF cell have been analyzed and discussed. Profiles of oxygen concentration, liquid water saturation, and cathode overpotential are presented for different values of the temperature of the PEMFC.