Abstract
A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is an electrochemical device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy and heat. The energy conversion is simple; however, the multiphysics phenomena involved in the energy conversion process must be analyzed in detail. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) provides a diffusion media for reactant gases and gives mechanical support to the fuel cell. It is a complex medium whose properties impact the fuel cell’s efficiency. Therefore, an in-depth analysis is required to improve its mechanical and physical properties. In the current study, several transport phenomena through three-dimensional digitally created GDLs have been analyzed. Once the porous microstructure is generated and the transport phenomena are mimicked, transport parameters related to the fluid flow and mass diffusion are computed. The GDLs are approximated to the carbon paper represented as a grouped package of carbon fibers. Several correlations, based on the fiber diameter, to predict their transport properties are proposed. The digitally created GDLs and the transport phenomena have been modeled using the open-source library named Open Pore Network Modeling (OpenPNM). The proposed correlations show a good fit with the obtained data with an R-square of approximately 0.98.
Highlights
IntroductionEfforts have been increased to generate clean energy from renewable sources to avoid polluting gases [1]
A sample of generated gas diffusion layer (GDL) is presented, and the results of different transport parameters are depicted as a function of the fiber diameter
The Open Pore Network Modeling (OpenPNM) library has been a powerful tool for solving different transport phenomena in complex geometries such as GDLs
Summary
Efforts have been increased to generate clean energy from renewable sources to avoid polluting gases [1]. Appears as a suitable solution for portable applications due to its modularity and electrical efficiency [2]. A PEFC generates electrical energy due to the chemical reactions that occur during the energy conversion process. Among the constitutive elements that make the energy conversion possible are the catalyst layers (CL), gas diffusion layer (GDL), and the heart of the device, the ion exchange membrane.
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