Effect of Gas Diffusion Layer Thickness and Rib-Channel Width on Liquid Water and Oxygen Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: A Hybrid Pore-Network/Continuum Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Zapardiel ◽  
Pablo A. García-Salaberri
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Oxygen Transport ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Continuum Model ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Diffusion Layer Thickness

scholarly journals Inhomogeneous Distribution of Polytetrafluorethylene in Gas Diffusion Layers of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 136 (3) ◽  
pp. 843-862
Author(s):  
Dieter Froning ◽  
Uwe Reimer ◽  
Werner Lehnert
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Inhomogeneous Distribution ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layers ◽  
Diffusion Layers

AbstractPolymer electrolyte fuel cells require gas diffusion layers that can efficiently distribute the feeding gases from the channel structure to the catalyst layer on both sides of the membrane. On the cathode side, these layers must also allow the transport of liquid product water in a counter flow direction from the catalyst layer to the air channels where it can be blown away by the air flow. In this study, two-phase transport in the fibrous structures of a gas diffusion layer was simulated using the lattice Boltzmann method. Liquid water transport is affected by the hydrophilic treatment of the fibers. Following the assumption that polytetrafluorethylene is preferably concentrated at the crossings of fibers, the impact of its spatial distribution is analyzed. Both homogeneous and inhomogeneous distribution is investigated. The concentration of polytetrafluorethylene in the upstream region is of advantage for the fast transport of liquid water through the gas diffusion layer. Special attention is given to the topmost fiber layer. Moreover, polytetrafluorethylene covering the fibers leads to large contact angles.

Determination of oxygen transport resistance in gas diffusion layer for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 2225-2233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. H. Wan ◽  
Q. Zhong ◽  
S. F. Liu ◽  
A. P. Jin ◽  
Y. N. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Oxygen Transport ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Fabrication and Characterization of Tuneable Flow-Channel/Gas-Diffusion-Layer Interface for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepashree Thumbarathy ◽  
Gaurav Gupta ◽  
Mohamed Mamlouk ◽  
Prodip K. Das
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Surface Morphology ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells ◽  
Flow Channel ◽  
Surface Wettability ◽  
Selective Wetting

Abstract Gas diffusion layer (GDL) and its interfaces with the flow-channel and microporous layer or catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) play a significant role in water management and heat removal from the cells. Both surface morphology and surface wettability of GDL influence and control the water transport in PEFCs. Thus, the surface morphology and selectivity of its surface wettability are critical for PEFCs to provide optimum outputs. In this study, we have reported the fabrications of GDLs with a selective wetting pattern. Sigracet® GDLs were used as a substrate and two different monomers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) added with fumed silica (Si) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), were used to print a selective pattern on the GDL surfaces. The evaluations of printed GDL surfaces, by means of static contact angle, sliding angles, and scanning electron microscopy image show that superhydrophobicity was achieved with both FEP and PDMS-Si coatings. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the successful introduction of the functional groups in both the coatings. Finally, pore size distributions, sliding angle measurements, and adhesion forces were used to investigate the interactions between the water droplets and GDL surfaces. The results of this study demonstrate that the present approach provides a novel but simple way to tune GDL surfaces with selective wetting properties and obtain superhydrophobic interfaces. The electrochemical results showed that an improvement can be achieved for the performance of PEFCs with patterned GDL/flow-channel interfaces.

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