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Optimization of gas diffusion layer in high temperature PEMFC with the focuses on thickness and porosity

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  • Xia, Lingchao
  • Ni, Meng
  • He, Qijiao
  • Xu, Qidong
  • Cheng, Chun

Abstract

Wide ranges of thickness (e.g. 100–400 μm) and porosity (e.g. 30–70%) of gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) are available in the literature. However, the effects of GDL porosity and thickness on electron conduction and gas distribution uniformity (under the rib and under the channel) are unclear. In this study, a numerical non-isothermal 3D model was developed. After model validation, parametric analyses were performed to investigate the effects of thickness and porosity on flow uniformity (under the rib and under the channel), diffusion flux and ohmic resistance. It is found that both the flow uniformity and ohmic resistance increase with increasing thickness and porosity. However, the thickness and porosity have opposite influence on diffusion flux, which decreases with increasing GDL thickness but increases with increasing porosity. Unlike the previous research suggesting thin GDL with high porosity, optimal GDL thickness and porosity are found in the present study. The appropriate GDL thicknesses for anode and cathode are 80–120 μm and 140–170 μm respectively while the optimal value for GDL porosity is 35–45%. This study clearly demonstrates that we can further achieve a performance increment of 7.7% by carefully controlling the thickness and porosity of GDL.

Suggested Citation

  • Xia, Lingchao & Ni, Meng & He, Qijiao & Xu, Qidong & Cheng, Chun, 2021. "Optimization of gas diffusion layer in high temperature PEMFC with the focuses on thickness and porosity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:300:y:2021:i:c:s0306261921007649
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117357
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lakshminarayana, G. & Nogami, Masayuki & Kityk, I.V., 2010. "Synthesis and characterization of anhydrous proton conducting inorganic–organic composite membranes for medium temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 5260-5268.
    2. Jannelli, Elio & Minutillo, Mariagiovanna & Perna, Alessandra, 2013. "Analyzing microcogeneration systems based on LT-PEMFC and HT-PEMFC by energy balances," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 82-91.
    3. Niu, Zhiqiang & Bao, Zhiming & Wu, Jingtian & Wang, Yun & Jiao, Kui, 2018. "Two-phase flow in the mixed-wettability gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 443-450.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Akira Nishimura & Daiki Mishima & Kyohei Toyoda & Syogo Ito & Mohan Lal Kolhe, 2023. "Numerical Simulation on Effect of Separator Thickness on Coupling Phenomena in Single Cell of PEFC under Higher Temperature Operation Condition at 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-28, January.
    2. Keller, Nico & von Unwerth, Thomas, 2022. "Advanced parametric model for analysis of the influence of channel cross section dimensions and clamping pressure on current density distribution in PEMFC," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    3. Akira Nishimura & Kyohei Toyoda & Yuya Kojima & Syogo Ito & Eric Hu, 2021. "Numerical Simulation on Impacts of Thickness of Nafion Series Membranes and Relative Humidity on PEMFC Operated at 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Zhou, Yu & Chen, Ben, 2023. "Investigation of optimization and evaluation criteria for flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    5. Xiangyang Chen & Xianglong Luo & Chao Wang & Yingzong Liang & Jianyong Chen & Zhi Yang & Jiacheng He & Ying Chen, 2024. "Channel-to-Rib Width Ratio Optimization for the Electrical Performance Enhancement in PEMFC Based on Accurate Strain-Stress Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-28, February.
    6. Deng, Shutong & Zhang, Jun & Zhang, Caizhi & Luo, Mengzhu & Ni, Meng & Li, Yu & Zeng, Tao, 2022. "Prediction and optimization of gas distribution quality for high-temperature PEMFC based on data-driven surrogate model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    7. Akira Nishimura & Nozomu Kono & Kyohei Toyoda & Daiki Mishima & Mohan Lal Kolhe, 2022. "Impact of Separator Thickness on Temperature Distribution in Single Cell of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Operated at Higher Temperature of 90 °C and 100 °C," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, June.
    8. Zhiming Zhang & Zhihao Chen & Kunpeng Li & Xinfeng Zhang & Caizhi Zhang & Tong Zhang, 2023. "A Multi-Field Coupled PEMFC Model with Force-Temperature-Humidity and Experimental Validation for High Electrochemical Performance Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-17, August.
    9. Pei, Houchang & Xiao, Chenguang & Tu, Zhengkai, 2022. "Experimental study on liquid water formation characteristics in a novel transparent proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 321(C).
    10. Akira Nishimura & Kyohei Toyoda & Daiki Mishima & Syogo Ito & Eric Hu, 2022. "Numerical Analysis on Impact of Thickness of PEM and GDL with and without MPL on Coupling Phenomena in PEFC Operated at Higher Temperature Such as 363 K and 373 K," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-31, August.

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