{"title":"Study on the Influence of GDL Porosity Distribution Variation on PEMFC Performance Under Assembly Pressure","authors":"Yifei Cao, Yanfeng Xing, Juyong Cao, Xiaobing Zhang, Linfa Peng","doi":"10.1002/fuce.202400102","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n <p>The porosity of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) significantly impacts the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Assembly pressure in PEMFCs leads to GDL deformation and alterations in porosity distribution. This study integrated a three-dimensional (3D) GDL deformation model with a 3D two-phase PEMFC model, employing a four-term Fourier series model to optimize the fitting of the GDL porosity distribution curve. The approach quantitatively assessed the impact of GDL porosity distribution under assembly pressure on PEMFC performance. Results reveal an arched porosity distribution in GDL, peaking in the middle of low channels adjacent to ribs. High porosity enhances oxygen and heat conduction but excessive porosity may cause uneven current density distribution, hindering GDL drainage. Furthermore, the analysis compares performances at various GDL compression ratios and thicknesses, showing an initial rise then fall in current density with increasing pressure. This represents a trade-off between the adverse impact of GDL compression on mass transfer losses and the favorable impact of reduced ohmic losses. At the optimal pressure, the current density is 3% higher than neighboring values at the same potential, and within the optimal GDL thickness range, the current density error remains below 1%.</p>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":12566,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Cells","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Fuel Cells","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/fuce.202400102","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ELECTROCHEMISTRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The porosity of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) significantly impacts the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Assembly pressure in PEMFCs leads to GDL deformation and alterations in porosity distribution. This study integrated a three-dimensional (3D) GDL deformation model with a 3D two-phase PEMFC model, employing a four-term Fourier series model to optimize the fitting of the GDL porosity distribution curve. The approach quantitatively assessed the impact of GDL porosity distribution under assembly pressure on PEMFC performance. Results reveal an arched porosity distribution in GDL, peaking in the middle of low channels adjacent to ribs. High porosity enhances oxygen and heat conduction but excessive porosity may cause uneven current density distribution, hindering GDL drainage. Furthermore, the analysis compares performances at various GDL compression ratios and thicknesses, showing an initial rise then fall in current density with increasing pressure. This represents a trade-off between the adverse impact of GDL compression on mass transfer losses and the favorable impact of reduced ohmic losses. At the optimal pressure, the current density is 3% higher than neighboring values at the same potential, and within the optimal GDL thickness range, the current density error remains below 1%.
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This journal is only available online from 2011 onwards.
Fuel Cells — From Fundamentals to Systems publishes on all aspects of fuel cells, ranging from their molecular basis to their applications in systems such as power plants, road vehicles and power sources in portables.
Fuel Cells is a platform for scientific exchange in a diverse interdisciplinary field. All related work in
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is included.
Fuel Cells—From Fundamentals to Systems has an International Editorial Board and Editorial Advisory Board, with each Editor being a renowned expert representing a key discipline in the field from either a distinguished academic institution or one of the globally leading companies.
Fuel Cells—From Fundamentals to Systems is designed to meet the needs of scientists and engineers who are actively working in the field. Until now, information on materials, stack technology and system approaches has been dispersed over a number of traditional scientific journals dedicated to classical disciplines such as electrochemistry, materials science or power technology.
Fuel Cells—From Fundamentals to Systems concentrates on the publication of peer-reviewed original research papers and reviews.