Abstract
The gas diffusion layer (GDL) typically consists of a thin layer of carbon fiber paper, carbon cloth or nonwoven and has numerous pores. The GDL plays an important role that determines the performance of the fuel cell. It is a medium through which hydrogen and oxygen are transferred and serves as a passage through which water, generated by the electrochemical reaction, is discharged. The GDL tissue undergoes a compressive loading during the stacking process. This leads to changes in fiber content, porosity and resin content due to compressive load, which affects the mechanical, chemical and electrical properties of the GDL and ultimately determines fuel cell performance. In this study, the geometry of a GDL was modeled according to the compression ratios (10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%), which simulated the compression during the stacking process and predicted the equivalent properties according to the change of GDL carbon fiber content, matrix content and pore porosity, etc. The proposed method to predict the equivalent material properties can not only consider the stacking direction of the material during stack assembling process, but can also provide a manufacturing standard for fastening compressive load for GDL.
Highlights
Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy.There are various types such as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFCs) depending on fuel and substances
In terms of structural and functional aspects, the fuel cell can be divided into a separation plate, a gas diffusion layer (GDL), a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gasket
The porous structure of a GDL transfers the reactant gas supplied through the separator to the MEA where the electrochemical reaction occurs and discharges the water generated by the electrochemical reaction to the separator in the catalyst layer of the MEA
Summary
There are various types such as proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFCs) depending on fuel and substances. In terms of structural and functional aspects, the fuel cell can be divided into a separation plate, a gas diffusion layer (GDL), a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and a gasket. The porous structure of a GDL transfers the reactant gas (hydrogen and oxygen) supplied through the separator to the MEA where the electrochemical reaction occurs and discharges the water generated by the electrochemical reaction to the separator in the catalyst layer of the MEA. There are many pores in the GDL that are the passages of the reaction gas and the generated water
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