Investigating effect of different gas diffusion layers on water droplet characteristics for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (33) ◽  
pp. 18340-18350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virat Patel ◽  
Logan Battrell ◽  
Ryan Anderson ◽  
Ning Zhu ◽  
Lifeng Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layers ◽  
Diffusion Layers ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Measuring Critical Velocity of Water Droplet Removal on Gas Diffusion Layers of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caymen Novak ◽  
Emily Hsu ◽  
Richard Schuster ◽  
Xia Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Critical Velocity ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Droplet Diameter ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Diffusion Layers ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The production of water on the cathode electrode of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells may cause problems with flooding or freezing of cell. Therefore, there is a need for water management. This study investigates water droplet removal on the gas diffusion layer by measuring critical velocity-the velocity needed to remove droplets formed above the GDL. A test apparatus was designed for this study, and the effects of droplet diameter, GDL thickness, and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) loading on the critical velocity were studied. When droplet diameter and PTFE loading were increased, a decrease in critical velocity was observed. However, as GDL thickness increased, depending on the PTFE loading, either an increase or decrease in critical velocity was observed. Thus, it was concluded that increased droplet diameter and increased PTFE loading result in lower critical velocities, increasing thickness results in lower critical velocity for low PTFE loadings, and increasing thickness does not have a significant effect on the critical velocity for high PTFE loadings. This work increases the understanding of designing an optimum GDL in the fuel cell, while also providing insight on the critical velocity needed to remove water droplets from the GDL.

Engineered Gas Diffusion Layers for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1507-1518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Blanco ◽  
David P. Wilkinson ◽  
Haijiang Wang ◽  
Simon Z.S. Liu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layers ◽  
Diffusion Layers ◽  
Exchange Membrane
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