Preparation and Performance Study of Anode Self-Humidifying Gas Diffusion Layer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianya Li ◽  
Ke Zhou ◽  
Guangyi Lin
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Transmission Efficiency ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Carbon Paper ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Small Water ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Hydrogen is oxidized into H+ and e- on the anode side of fuel cell. H+ are transported from anode to cathode of fuel cell in the form of H3+O. When fuel cell is running under low humidity, the relatively small water content will reduce H+ transmission efficiency and causes an increase in ohmic impedance. In order to solve this problem, this paper prepared self-humidifying gas diffusion layer （GDL） by spraying method. The content of PTFE in the microporous layer (MPL) near carbon paper side is relatively high, and the content of PTFE in MPL near catalyst layer side is relatively low, thus forming MPL with graded hydrophobic structure. Since the MPL near catalyst layer side is relatively hydrophilic, it will condense into liquid water when external humidifying gas passes, thereby generating self-humidifying effect. Through research, self-humidifying GDL with double MPL structure can produce good self-humidification.

Numerical Study of Pressure Drop in the Separator Channel and Gas Diffusion Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell and Deformation Effect of Porous Media

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Litan Kumar Saha ◽  
Eru Kurihara ◽  
Wanyuan Shi ◽  
Nobuyuki Oshima
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Channel ◽  
Porosity And Permeability

The flow behavior in the separator channel and gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has been investigated by using a transient, isothermal and three-dimensional numerical model. Gas channel and gas diffusion layers are considered as the important parts of PEFC as they transport reactant gases to the catalyst layer and also byproduct from the catalyst layer. The deformation of GDL plays an important role on the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cell since the physical properties such as porosity and permeability of the GDL and the cross sectional area of the gas channel are affected by the structural deformation of GDL. In this present investigation, non-uniform deformations shape of GDL are taken into consideration and chosen as in the experimental data. Numerical simulations are performed for a wide range of porosity and permeability values. Further, the effects of these parameters on the pressure distribution are measured. It is revealed that the increase of porosity and permeability parameter caused the decrease of pressure drop (difference of pressure from inlet and outlet) but the decreasing rate is not uniform. It is also found that there is an effective range of porosity and permeability values for which these parameters have a very strong effect on the pressure drop. The results obtained by numerical simulation are also compared with the experimental as well as theoretical solution.

scholarly journals Analytical Impedance of Oxygen Transport in the Channel and Gas Diffusion Layer of a PEM Fuel Cell

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrei Kulikovsky
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Oxygen Transport ◽  
Analytical Formula ◽  
Catalyst Layer ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Nyquist Plot ◽  
Current Conservation

Abstract An analytical model for impedance of oxygen transport in the gas--diffusion layer (GDL) and cathode channel of a PEM fuel cell was developed. The model is based on transient oxygen mass conservation equations coupled to the proton current conservation equation in the catalyst layer. An analytical formula for the ``GDL+channel'' impedance was derived assuming that the oxygen and proton transport in the cathode catalyst layer (CCL) are fast. In the Nyquist plot, the resulting impedance consisted of two arcs describing oxygen transport in the air channel (low--frequency arc) and in the GDL. The characteristic frequency of GDL arc depends on the CCL thickness: large CCL thickness strongly lowers this frequency. At small CCL thickness, the high--frequency feature on the arc shape forms. This effect is important for identification of peaks in distribution of relaxation times spectra of low--Pt PEMFCs.

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