The Effect of Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) Porosity Variation on Oxygen Distribution Along the PEM Fuel Cell

2020 ◽  
pp. 286-293
Author(s):  
Yassine Amadane ◽  
Hamid Mounir ◽  
Abdellatif El Marjani ◽  
Mohamed Karim Ettouhami
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Oxygen Distribution ◽  
Porosity Variation

Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Water Cumulation at the Gas Channel-Gas Diffusion Layer Interface in PEM Fuel Cells

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Maggiolo ◽  
Andrea Marion ◽  
Massimo Guarnieri
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Vapor Condensation ◽  
Relative Height ◽  
Gas Channel

Several experiments have proved that water in liquid phase can be present at the anode of a PEM fuel cell due to vapor condensation resulting in mass transport losses. Nevertheless, it is not yet well understood where exactly water tends to cumulate and how the design of the gas channel (GC) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) could be improved to limit water cumulation. In the present work a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann based model is implemented in order to simulate the water cumulation at the GC-GDL interface at the anode of a PEM fuel cell. The numerical model incorporates the H2-H2O mixture equation of state and spontaneously simulates phase separation phenomena. Different simulations are carried out varying pressure gradient, pore size and relative height of the GDL. Results reveal that, once saturation conditions are reached, water tends to cumulate in two main regions: the upper and side walls of the GC and the GC-GDL interface, resulting in a limitation of the reactant diffusion from the GC to the GDL. Interestingly, the cumulation of liquid water at the interface is found to diminish as the relative height of the GDL increases.

Lattice Boltzmann Modeling of Water Cumulation at the Gas Channel-Gas Diffusion Layer Interface in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Maggiolo ◽  
Andrea Marion ◽  
Massimo Guarnieri
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Vapor Condensation ◽  
Relative Height ◽  
Gas Channel

Several experiments have proved that water in liquid phase can be present at the anode of a PEM fuel cell due to vapor condensation resulting in mass transport losses. Nevertheless, it is not yet well understood where exactly water tends to cumulate and how the design of the gas channel (GC) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) could be improved to limit water cumulation. In the present work, a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann based model is implemented in order to simulate the water cumulation at the GC–GDL interface at the anode of a PEM fuel cell. The numerical model incorporates the H2–H2O mixture equation of state and spontaneously simulates phase separation phenomena. Different simulations are carried out varying pressure gradient, pore size, and relative height of the GDL. Results reveal that, once saturation conditions are reached, water tends to cumulate in two main regions: the upper and side walls of the GC and the GC–GDL interface, resulting in a limitation of the reactant diffusion from the GC to the GDL. Interestingly, the cumulation of liquid water at the interface is found to diminish as the relative height of the GDL increases.

Experimental Evaluation of Air Flow Effect in Gas Diffusion Layer on PEM Fuel Cell Performance

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutaka Tabe ◽  
Daisuke Yoshida ◽  
Kazushige Kikuta ◽  
Takemi Chikahisa ◽  
Masaya Kozakai
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Local Pressure ◽  
The Cross

This paper investigated the effects of gas and liquid water flow on the performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell using cells to allow direct observation of the phenomena in the cell and measurements of the local current density and the local pressure loss. The experimental results to compare the separator type indicated the effect of cross-over flow in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) under the lands of serpentine separators on cell performance and the potential of straight channel separator to achieve a relatively-uniform current density distribution. To evaluate the cross-over flow under the land of serpentine separators, a simple circuit model of the gas flow was developed. This analysis showed that slight variations in oxygen concentration caused by the cross-over flow under the land affect the local and overall current density distributions. It was also shown that the establishment of gas paths in the deep layer of GDL by the channels filled with condensed water is effective for stable operation at low flow rates of air in the straight channels.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document