Effect of porosity distribution on performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2024.04.016

Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science)

2024, Vol. 58

Issue (4): 808-816 DOI: 10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2024.04.016

Effect of porosity distribution on performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Yujie YIN1,2(

),Feng SUN3,Dandan SU1,2,*(

),Shuaichang QIN1,2,Xuliang NIE1,2,Bin PANG1,2

1. School of Quality and Technical Supervision, Hebei University, Baoding 071002, China
2. Hebei Technology Innovation Center for Lightweight of New Energy Vehicle Power System, Baoding 071002, China
3. Institute for Advanced Materials and Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100080, China

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Abstract

The three-dimensional models of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with parallel, serpentine and leaf vein flow fields were established, and the oxygen distribution characteristics of catalytic layer (CL) in different models were analyzed. The corresponding porosity gradient distribution schemes in gas diffusion layer (GDL) were proposed for different flow models. The oxygen molar fraction distribution, membrane current density distribution, polarization curve and power density curve in different flow field models were analyzed. Results show that the proposed porosity gradient distribution scheme can effectively enhance the oxygen transfer from GDL to CL, improve the local oxygen supply deficiency of CL, and enhance the output performance of PEMFC. Compared with the parallel, serpentine and leaf vein flow field models of the conventional porosity distribution, the peak power density of the flow field model using the porosity gradient distribution increased by 8.59%, 18.26% and 15.46%, respectively.

Key words： proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) flow field gas diffusion layer porosity catalytic layer

Received: 13 March 2023 Published: 27 March 2024

CLC:

TM 911.4

Fund: 国家自然科学基金资助项目（51902081）；河北省自然科学基金资助项目（E2021201032）；保定市科技计划资助项目（2074P019）；河北大学高层次人才科研启动项目（521100222037）.

Corresponding Authors: Dandan SU E-mail: yyjhbu@163.com;sudandanhbu@hbu.edu.cn

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Cite this article:

Yujie YIN,Feng SUN,Dandan SU,Shuaichang QIN,Xuliang NIE,Bin PANG. Effect of porosity distribution on performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of ZheJiang University (Engineering Science), 2024, 58(4): 808-816.

URL:

https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2024.04.016 OR https://www.zjujournals.com/eng/Y2024/V58/I4/808

孔隙率分布对质子交换膜燃料电池性能的影响

建立平行、蛇形及叶脉流场的三维质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC)模型，分析不同模型中催化层(CL)的氧气分布特征. 针对不同流场模型提出对应的气体扩散层(GDL)孔隙率梯度分布方案，分析不同流场模型中氧气摩尔分数分布、膜电流密度分布、极化曲线与功率密度曲线. 结果表明，所提GDL孔隙率梯度分布方案能够强化氧气由GDL向CL的传输效果，改善CL上局部氧气供应不足现象，提升PEMFC输出性能. 与常规孔隙率分布的平行、蛇形及叶脉流场模型相比，采用孔隙率梯度分布的流场模型的峰值功率密度分别提高了8.59%，18.26%和15.46%.

关键词： 质子交换膜燃料电池(PEMFC), 流场, 气体扩散层, 孔隙率, 催化层

Fig.1 SEM images of gas diffusion layer for different porosity

Fig.2 Geometric models of flow field for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Tab.1 Geometric parameters and operating conditions of proton exchange membrane fuel cell model

Fig.3 Mesh independence verification of proton exchange membrane fuel cell model

Fig.4 Comparison of three curves of simulation polarization with experimental data

Fig.5 Conventional porosity distribution scheme of parallel flow field, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to three schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.6 Gradient porosity distribution scheme of parallel flow, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to three schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.7 Average oxygen molar fraction of different porosity distribution schemes in parallel flow fields

Fig.8 Distribution of membrane current density for different porosity distribution schemes in parallel flow fields (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.9 Average membrane current density of different porosity distribution schemes in parallel flow fields

Fig.10 Polarization curves and power density curves of different porosity distribution schemes in parallel flow fields

Fig.11 Conventional porosity distribution scheme of serpentine flow field, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to three schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.12 Gradient porosity distribution scheme of serpentine flow, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to five schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.13 Distribution of membrane current density for different porosity distribution schemes in serpentine flow fields (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.14 Average membrane current density of different porosity distribution schemes in serpentine flow fields

Fig.15 Polarization curves and power density curves of different porosity distribution schemes in serpentine flow fields

Fig.16 Conventional porosity distribution scheme of leaf vein flow field, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to three schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.17 Gradient porosity distribution scheme of leaf vein flow field, oxygen mole fraction distribution of catalytic layer corresponding to three schemes (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.18 Average oxygen mole fraction of different porosity distribution schemes in leaf vein flow fields

Fig.19 Distribution of membrane current density for different porosity distribution schemes in leaf vein flow fields (U_w=0.54 V)

Fig.20 Average membrane current density of different porosity distribution schemes in leaf vein flow fields

Fig.21 Polarization curves and power density curves of different porosity distribution schemes in leaf vein flow fields


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