Published Papers
     Search Papers (Springer,
   After 2008)
     Search Papers (Dbpia,
   Until 2007)
     Search Papers (JMST
   own data base)
       - Classification By Year   
       - Classification By Topic
     Special Issues
   
           
   
 
 
Subject Keyword Abstract Author
 
 
A numerical study on the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells due to the variation in gas diffusion layer permeability

Seung Man Baek, Soo Gon Koh, Kwang Nam Kim, Jung Ho Kang, Jin Hyun Nam, Charn-Jung Kim*
The Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, vol. 25, no. 2, pp.457-467, 2011

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.

Keyword : Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Gas diffusion layer; Permeability; Under-rib convection

 
 
 
JMST Editorial Office: #702 KSTC New Bldg, 22 7-gil, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06130, Korea
TEL: +82-2-501-3605, E-mail: editorial@j-mst.org
JMST Production Office: #702 KSTC New Bldg, 22 7-gil, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06130, Korea
TEL: +82-2-501-6056, FAX: +82-2-501-3649, E-mail: editorial@j-mst.org