Influence of Microelliptical Groove Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) on Transport Behavior of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yin, Bifeng; Xu, Sheng; Yang, Shuangyu; Dong, Fei
• Is Part Of: International journal of heat and mass transfer. Volume 180(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell -- gas diffusion layer -- electrochemical model;water diffusion -- transport behavior; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Mass transfer -- Periodicals; Chaleur -- Transmission -- Périodiques; Transfert de masse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.4022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.121793
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9310

Abstract

Highlights: A three-dimensional numerical simulation is carried out via electrochemical model. The existence of the elliptical groove allows more water to be removed from GDL. As the depth increases, water content decreases, while oxygen content increases. The radius has an influence on low mass fraction area and the water mass fraction. The width mainly affects the low water mass fraction area near the oxygen inlet. As the spacing increases, the water mass fraction in the xy plane decreases. Abstract: A new elliptical groove gas diffusion layer (GDL) using a three-dimensional model is proposed to improve the transport properties of the GDL of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The effects of different shape parameters on water diffusion and transport behavior are investigated. The results revealed that compared with the traditional GDL, the presence of an elliptical groove greatly accelerates the flow rate of the reactants and products. Also, when the depth increases from 100 to 300 μm, the water mass fraction of the GDL decreases, whereas the oxygen mass fraction increases. As the radius increases, the low mass fraction area in GDL gradually increases, and the water mass fraction of the flow channel increases. As the spacing increases, the water mass fraction of the GDL in the xy-plane decreases, and the oxygen mass fraction increases. When the depth increases, the transport properties of the fuel cell are improved. All shape parameters contribute to the mean water mass fraction. The water mass fraction is the lowest when depth is 350 μm, radius is 350 μm, width is 200 μm, and spacing is 50 μm.