The gas diffusion layer in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

A process model of the two-phase flow

authored by

Roberto Lemoine-Nava, Richard Hanke-Rauschenbach, Michael Mangold, Kai Sundmacher

Abstract

A two-phase flow process model for the gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, considering also the cathode catalyst layer (CL), is presented. For this purpose, a systematic analysis of the factors affecting flooding and drying, including the liquid accumulation in the gas channel (CH), was performed using a one-dimensional reference model for the GDL and a compact channel model. The treatment proposed for the CH-GDL interface was compared with other boundary conditions in the literature. It was concluded that the liquid accumulation in the channel is determinant for estimating the steady state and transient GDL flooding, but that predicting the saturation level in the CL can help for determining operation policies for precluding flooding in the GDL-CL composite, in the absence of an adequate channel model. Bifurcation behavior, associated with the water phase change, was identified by means of the compact model.

External Organisation(s)

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg

Type

Article

Journal

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Volume

2011

Pages

1637-1653

No. of pages

17

ISSN

0360-3199

Publication date

01.2011

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Fuel Technology, Condensed Matter Physics, Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.10.037 (Access: Unknown)