  We present a macrohomogeneous two-phase model of a proton exchange membrane
fuel cell (PEMFC). The model takes into account the mechanical compression of
the gas diffusion layer (GDL), the two-phase flow of water, the transport of
the gas species and the electrochemical reaction of the reactant gases. The
model was used to simulate the behavior of a PEMFC with a patterned GDL. The
results of the reduced model, which considers only the mechanical compression
and the two-phase flow, are compared to the experimental ex-situ imbibition
data obtained by neutron radiography imaging. The results are in good
agreement. Additionally, by using all model features, a simulation of an
operating fuel cell has been performed to study the intricate couplings in an
operating fuel cell and to examine the patterned GDL effects. The model
confirms that the patterned GDL design liberates the pre-defined domains from
liquid water and thus locally increases the oxygen diffusivity.
