Effects of porosity gradient in gas diffusion layers on performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Yu-Xian Huang, Chin-Hsiang Cheng, Xiao-Dong Wang and Jiin-Yuh Jang

Energy, 2010, vol. 35, issue 12, 4786-4794

Abstract: A three-dimensional, two-phase, non-isothermal model has been developed to explore the interaction between heat and water transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Water condensate produced from the electrochemical reaction may accumulate in the open pores of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and retard the oxygen transport to the catalyst sites. This study predicts the enhancement of the water transport for linear porosity gradient in the cathode GDL of a PEMFC. An optimal porosity distribution was found based on a parametric study. Results show that a optimal linear porosity gradient with ɛ1 = 0.7 and ɛ2 = 0.3 for the parallel and z-serpentine channel design leads to a maximum increase in the limiting current density from 10,696 Am−2 to 13,136 Am−2 and 14,053 Am−2 to 16,616 Am−2 at 0.49 V, respectively. On the other hand, the oxygen usage also increases from 36% to 46% for the parallel channel design and from 55% to 67% for the z-serpentine channel design. The formation of a porosity gradient in the GDL enhances the capillary diffusivity, increases the electrical conductivity, and hence, benefits the oxygen transport throughout the GDL. The present study provides a theoretical support for existing reports that a GDL with a gradient porosity improves cell performance.

Keywords: Fuel cell; Porosity gradient; Water management; Gas diffusion layer (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544210004901
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:35:y:2010:i:12:p:4786-4794

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2010.09.011

Access Statistics for this article

Energy is currently edited by Henrik Lund and Mark J. Kaiser

More articles in Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().