Unstructured pore network modeling with heterogeneous PEMFC GDL porosity distributions

Hinebaugh, James; Fishman, Zachary; Bazylak, A.

Affiliations

¹Microscale Energy Systems Transport Phenomena Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada

Abstract

The Electrochemical Society (ECS), find out more. Unstructured Pore Network Modeling with Heterogeneous PEMFC GDL Porosity Distributions James Hinebaugh, Zachary Fishman and A. Bazylak2,3 Published 21 September 2010 • © 2010 ECS - The Electrochemical Society Journal of The Electrochemical Society, Volume 157, Number 11 Citation James Hinebaugh et al 2010 J. Electrochem. Soc. 157 B1651 DOI 10.1149/1.3486095 Authors Article metrics 842 Total downloads 8484 total citations on Dimensions. Permissions Get permission to re-use this article Share this article Article information Abstract This is the first investigation of the liquid water saturation profile dependence on empirically determined heterogeneous polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) gas diffusion layer (GDL) porosity distributions. An unstructured, two-dimensional pore network model using an invasion percolation algorithm is presented. Random fiber placements are based on the heterogeneous porosity distributions of six commercially available GDL materials recently obtained through X-ray-computed tomography visualizations. The pore space is characterized with a Voronoi diagram, and simulations are performed with a single inlet liquid water cluster. Saturation profiles are also computed for GDLs with uniform, sinusoidal, and square-wave porosity distributions. Liquid water tends to accumulate in regions of high porosity due to the associated lower capillary pressures. The results of this work suggest that GDLs tailored to have smooth porosity distributions have fewer pockets of high saturation levels within the bulk of the material. Finally, a study on theoretical surface modifications demonstrates that low porosity surface treatments at the catalyst layer|GDL interface result in greatly reduced overall saturation levels of the material.

Links

DOI: 10.1149/1.3486095

WoS: 000283857900046

History

Received: 2010-06-25

Revised: 2010-08-12

Online: 2010-09-21

Cited By (16)

Year	Entry
2016	Pant LM. Stochastic Characterization and Reconstruction of Porous Media [PhD thesis]. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta; Spring 2016.
2019	Sabharwal M. Microstructural and Performance Analysis of Fuel Cell Electrodes [PhD thesis]. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta; F 2019.
2020	Jung S. Estimation of Relative Transport Properties of Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Transport Layers by Pore Network and Continuum Based Direct Simulations [Master's thesis]. Edmonton, AB: University of Alberta; Spring 2020.
2014	Flick S. New Methodologies to Characterize PEMFC Performance Losses [PhD thesis]. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia; November 2014.
2010	Fishman JZ. Investigation of Surface Properties and Heterogeneity in Gas Diffusion Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2010.
2012	Challa PR. X-Ray Investigations of PEMFC Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs) [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2012.
2015	Fazeli M. Pore Network Modeling of Multiphase Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2015.
2015	Hinebaugh JT. Pore Network Modeling and Synchrotron Imaging of Liquid Water in the Gas Diffusion Layer of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2015.
2016	Ge N. Non-Isothermal Two-Phase Transport in the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Microporous Layer [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2016.
2016	George MG. X-Ray-Based Imaging for Characterizing Heterogeneous Gas Diffusion Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2016.
2017	Arbabi F. Oxygen Bubble Propagation in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyzer Porous Transport Layers [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2017.
2017	Lee J. X-Ray Investigations of Liquid Water Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2017.
2018	Liu H. Liquid Water Transport Behavior in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers Due to Material Degradation and Fibre Surface Morphology [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2018.
2019	Balakrishnan M. Tailored Electrospun Gas Diffusion Layers for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells: Design and Durability [Master's thesis]. University of Toronto; 2019.
2019	Lee C. Flow and Mass Transport for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Electrolyzers [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2019.
2023	Shrestha P. Heterogeneous Water Transport in Fuel Cell Materials [PhD thesis]. University of Toronto; 2023.