Design and Analysis of Gas Diffusion Layers in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Source abstract
Abstract
A proton exchange membrane fuel cell is an energy convertor that produces environmentally friendly electrical energy by oxidation of hydrogen, with water and heat being byproducts. This study investigates the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this regard, the key design concerns and restraints of the GDL have been assessed, accompanied by an inclusive evaluation of the presently existing models. In addition, the common materials used for the GDL have been explored, evaluating their properties. Moreover, a case study of step-by-step modeling for an optimal GDL has been presented. An experimental test has been carried out on a single cell under various compressions. Lastly, a parametric study has been performed considering many design parameters, such as porosity, permeability, geometrical sizes, and compression of the GDL to improve the overall efficiency of the fuel cell. The results are presented in this paper in order to help ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of PEMFCs and facilitate their development further.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Fuel Cells and Related Materials · Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion · Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Vocational School of Yenisehir Ibrahim Orhan, Bursa Uludag University, 16900 Bursa, Turkey
Department of Mechanical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah 26666, United Arab Emirates
References (30)
Show source-provided references
1. An overview of fuel cell technology: Fundamentals and applications10.1016/j.rser.2014.01.012 ↗
2. Membrane electrode assemblies for unitised regenerative polymer electrolyte fuel cells10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.02.068 ↗
3. The evolution of the performance of alkaline fuel cells with circulating electrolyte10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.11.032 ↗
4. Effects of fluorinated ethylene propylene contents in a novel gas diffusion layer on cell performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell10.1002/er.7269 ↗
5. Effect of different substrates, inks composition and rheology on coating deposition of microporous layer (MPL) for PEM-FCs10.1016/j.cattod.2009.07.023 ↗
6. Gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells—A review10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.04.005 ↗
7. PEM fuel cell electrodes10.1016/j.jpowsour.2003.12.055 ↗
8. Computational analysis of heat and mass transfer in a micro-structured PEMFC cathode10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.05.064 ↗
9. Effect of contaminants on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell10.1149/06608.0077ecst ↗
10. Ohashi, M., Weidner, J.W., Zee, J.W.V., and Dinh, H.N. (2013, January 27–28). Leaching studies of assembly aids for balance of plant of PEM fuel cells. Proceedings of the 224th ECS Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA.
11. Gas transport in two-layer proton exchange membranes10.1149/04509.0041ecst ↗
12. Investigation of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) processing parameters on performance for wholly aromatic hydrocarbon-based proton exchange membranes10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.02.059 ↗
13. Experimental characterization of in-plane permeability of gas diffusion layers10.1016/j.jpowsour.2006.07.058 ↗
14. The influence of porous transport layer modifications on the water management in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells10.1016/j.jpowsour.2013.01.085 ↗
15. Degradation effects in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stacks by sub-zero operation—An in situ and ex situ analysis10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.03.074 ↗
16. Liquid water transport characteristics of porous diffusion media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: A review10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.08.092 ↗
17. Lattice Boltzmann simulation of liquid water transport in microporous and gas diffusion layers of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.12.044 ↗
18. Pore-network analysis of two-phase water transport in gas diffusion layers of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells10.1016/j.electacta.2008.08.068 ↗
19. Effective transport properties for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells—With a focus on the gas diffusion layer10.1016/j.pecs.2012.07.002 ↗
20. Effect of air flow on liquid water transport through a hydrophobic gas diffusion layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.04.052 ↗
21. Effect of liquid water on transport properties of the gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.01.146 ↗
22. Liquid water transport in a mixed-wet gas diffusion layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell10.1016/j.ces.2007.11.007 ↗
23. Energy efficiency improvements by investigating the water flooding management on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)10.1016/j.energy.2019.04.074 ↗
24. Barbir, F. (2005). PEM Fuel Cells: Theory and Practice, Elsevier Academic Press.
25. Spiegel, C. (2008). Chapter 8—Modeling the Gas Diffusion Layers. PEM Fuel Cell Modeling and Simulation Using Matlab, Academic Press.10.1016/B978-012374259-9.50009-4 ↗
26. Effect of anisotropic electrical resistivity of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) on current density and temperature distribution in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.06.016 ↗
27. Yan, X., Lin, C., Zheng, Z., Chen, J., Wei, G., and Zhang, J. (2020). Effect of clamping pressure on liquid-cooled PEMFC stack performance considering inhomogeneous gas diffusion layer compression. Appl. Energy, 258.10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.114073 ↗
28. Bao, Z., Li, Y., Zhou, X., Gao, F., Du, Q., and Jiao, K. (2021). Transport properties of gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Effects of compression. Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 178.10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121608 ↗
29. Zhu, L., Zhang, H., Xiao, L., Bazylak, A., Gao, X., and Sui, P.-C. (2021). Pore-scale modeling of gas diffusion layers: Effects of compression on transport properties. J. Power Sources, 496.10.1016/j.jpowsour.2021.229822 ↗
30. Numerical estimation of the effective electrical conductivity in carbon paper diffusion media10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.08.037 ↗