Abstract
Convective flow in the under-rib regions of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) is a non-negligible transport process that can enhance the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by facilitating efficient utilization of catalyst layers (CLs) in those regions. The permeability of GDLs has been recognized as a dominant factor influencing the intensity of the under-rib convection in PEMFCs. In this study, the correlation between the permeability of GDLs and the performance of PEMFCs was numerically investigated through a detailed simulation of the transport and electrochemical processes in PEMFCs using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool. Three serpentine flow fields with one, three, or five parallel paths were considered as reactant flow channels for an active cell area of 3 cm × 3 cm, while the permeability of GDLs was varied from 1×10−12 m2 to 1×10−10 m2. The effects of the flow field design and the GDL permeability on the performance of PEMFCs were presented, along with their impacts on the local distribution of current density, water content, and reactant concentration.
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This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Tong Seop Kim
Seung Man Baek received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University of Technology, Korea, in 2005. Then, he received the M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University, Korea, in 2007. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. His research is focused on the thermal modeling of Li-ion battery systems, fuel cell systems, and solar thermal systems.
Charn-Jung Kim received his B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Seoul National University, Korea, in 1983 and 1985, respectively. Then, he received Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1991. Dr. Kim currently works as an associate Professor at School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Seoul National University. His research interests are focused on the numerical methods for thermo-fluid processes including computational fluid dynamics, heat and mass transfer, phase-change materials, and fuel cell systems.
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Baek, S.M., Koh, S.G., Kim, K.N. et al. A numerical study on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells due to the variation in gas diffusion layer permeability. J Mech Sci Technol 25, 457–467 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-1229-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-010-1229-z