Impact of Structural Variations in Gas Diffusion Layers on Effective Mass Transfer in PEMFCs Using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

IF 2.7 3区工程技术 Q3 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Transport in Porous Media Pub Date : 2025-03-24 DOI:10.1007/s11242-025-02163-7

Khanh-Hoan Nguyen, Kyoungsik Chang, Sadia Siddiqa

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Abstract

In this paper, a thorough computational model is used to investigate the heterogeneous mass transport properties in the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In PEMFCs, the GDL is essential for the movement of reaction gases and the expulsion of water generated during the process. One strategic way to improve PEMFC performance is to alter the GDL structure. Therefore, this paper introduces the structural modifications in the GDL to improve and optimize fuel cell efficiency. The GDLs are stochastically reconstructed in four distinct configurations: fixed-diameter fibers, fixed-diameter spheres, random-diameter spheres, and a combination of fixed-diameter fiber/spherical. These structures are considered to quantify their influence on diffusion within the GDL. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to simulate the GDL model via OpenLB. The results reveal that variations in structure, thickness, and porosity lead to changes in pore size, shape, and distribution, thereby significantly influencing mass transport properties. The findings indicate that the flow of flux through the entire GDL is easier in a spherical structure as compared to a fiber structure. This analytical approach provides valuable insights into microscopic flow phenomena within porous structures and their consequential impact on macroscopic transport properties.

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来源期刊

Transport in Porous Media 工程技术-工程：化工

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

7.40%

发文量

155

审稿时长

4.2 months

期刊介绍： -Publishes original research on physical, chemical, and biological aspects of transport in porous media- Papers on porous media research may originate in various areas of physics, chemistry, biology, natural or materials science, and engineering (chemical, civil, agricultural, petroleum, environmental, electrical, and mechanical engineering)- Emphasizes theory, (numerical) modelling, laboratory work, and non-routine applications- Publishes work of a fundamental nature, of interest to a wide readership, that provides novel insight into porous media processes- Expanded in 2007 from 12 to 15 issues per year. Transport in Porous Media publishes original research on physical and chemical aspects of transport phenomena in rigid and deformable porous media. These phenomena, occurring in single and multiphase flow in porous domains, can be governed by extensive quantities such as mass of a fluid phase, mass of component of a phase, momentum, or energy. Moreover, porous medium deformations can be induced by the transport phenomena, by chemical and electro-chemical activities such as swelling, or by external loading through forces and displacements. These porous media phenomena may be studied by researchers from various areas of physics, chemistry, biology, natural or materials science, and engineering (chemical, civil, agricultural, petroleum, environmental, electrical, and mechanical engineering).