Lattice Boltzmann simulation of the structural degradation of a gas diffusion layer for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

被引:33
作者
Wang, Yulin [1 ,2 ]
Xu, Haokai [1 ]
He, Wei [1 ]
Zhao, Yulong [3 ]
Wang, Xiaodong [4 ]
机构
[1] Tianjin Univ Commerce, Tianjin Key Lab Refrigerat Technol, Tianjin 300134, Peoples R China
[2] Chinese Acad Sci, Ningbo Inst Mat Technol & Engn, Ningbo 315200, Zhejiang, Peoples R China
[3] Hebei Univ Technol, Hebei Key Lab Thermal Sci & Energy Clean Utilizat, Tianjin 300401, Peoples R China
[4] North China Elect Power Univ, Res Ctr Engn Thermophys, Beijing 102206, Peoples R China
基金
美国国家科学基金会; 中国国家自然科学基金;
关键词
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Gas diffusion layer; Lattice Boltzmann method; Water drainage performance; Degradation; LIQUID WATER; MONTE-CARLO; MICROPOROUS LAYER; PTFE DISTRIBUTION; PEMFC; DURABILITY; REMOVAL; WETTABILITY; PERFORMANCE; TRANSPORT;
D O I
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2022.232452
中图分类号
O64 [物理化学(理论化学)、化学物理学];
学科分类号
070304 ; 081704 ;
摘要
The aging of a gas diffusion layer (GDL) significantly impacts water drainage and mass diffusion within a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This study employs a stochastic algorithm to reconstruct a 2D microstructure of carbon fiber-type GDL with various different aged degrees. Subsequently, a multiphase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is employed to examine water transport within the reconstructed GDLs. Results support the finding that as the GDL ages, its water elimination performance remarkably decreases and much water is retained inside the GDLs. Compared with the degradation of carbon fibers, the degradation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) leads to a more hydrophilic GDL, thereby reducing the local capillary pressure and forming multipaths for water transport, resulting in a more severe water flooding problem. A proper increase in PTFE content favors GDL antiaging performance, but an excessively high content can occupy pores and reduce the effective porosity, thus reducing the fuel cell performance. These results demonstrate that GDL with a PTFE content of 10 wt% shows better antiaging performance and the highest effective porosity. The study here provides an accurate assessment of liquid water drainage performance of GDL with various different aged degrees and guideline for designing GDLs with high antiaging performance.
引用
收藏
页数:11
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