IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v364y2024ics0306261924005695.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effect of gas diffusion layer parameters on cold start of PEMFCs with metal foam flow field

Author

Listed:
  • Tao, Xingxiao
  • Sun, Kai
  • Chen, Rui
  • Li, Qifeng
  • Liu, Huaiyu
  • Zhang, Wenzhe
  • Che, Zhizhao
  • Wang, Tianyou

Abstract

Metal foam (MF) flow field has extensive potential in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Under its influences on the internal flow and heat/mass transfer in PEMFCs, the original electrode structure base on the “channel-rib” flow field could be no longer suitable. In this study, the effects of gas diffusion layer (GDL) parameters on the cold start of PEMFCs with MF flow fields are studied experimentally. We focus on the pore size distribution and hydrophobicity of the GDL and investigate their effects on the cold start performance, the cell impedance, and the cell degradation. The results show that GDLs with large pore diameter and smooth pore size gradient are helpful to enhance the cold start performance and reduce the cell degradation due to the small mass-transfer resistance and excellent water/ice-storage capacity. In addition, the cell of GDL with moderate hydrophobicity has the best cold start performance at -5 °C as it can well balance the resistance of water transfer in GDL and from CL into GDL. Below -5 °C, a stronger GDL hydrophobicity can lead to a longer cell operating time and better cell stability. This is mainly because the GDL hydrophobicity can significantly affect the reactant flow path and the internal water freezing. The results of this study provide physical insight into the electrode optimization for improving the cold start of PEMFCs with MF flow fields.

Suggested Citation

  • Tao, Xingxiao & Sun, Kai & Chen, Rui & Li, Qifeng & Liu, Huaiyu & Zhang, Wenzhe & Che, Zhizhao & Wang, Tianyou, 2024. "Effect of gas diffusion layer parameters on cold start of PEMFCs with metal foam flow field," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:364:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924005695
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123186
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924005695
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123186?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yang, Zirong & Jiao, Kui & Wu, Kangcheng & Shi, Weilong & Jiang, Shangfeng & Zhang, Longhai & Du, Qing, 2021. "Numerical investigations of assisted heating cold start strategies for proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    2. Tiancai Ma & Weikang Lin & Yanbo Yang & Ming Cong & Zhuoping Yu & Qiongqiong Zhou, 2019. "Research on Control Algorithm of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Cooling System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Huo, Sen & Cooper, Nathanial James & Smith, Travis Lee & Park, Jae Wan & Jiao, Kui, 2017. "Experimental investigation on PEM fuel cell cold start behavior containing porous metal foam as cathode flow distributor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 101-114.
    4. Zhong, Di & Lin, Rui & Jiang, Zhenghua & Zhu, Yike & Liu, Dengchen & Cai, Xin & Chen, Liang, 2020. "Low temperature durability and consistency analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack based on comprehensive characterizations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    5. Dafalla, Ahmed Mohmed & Wei, Lin & Liao, Zihao & Guo, Jian & Jiang, Fangming, 2023. "Influence of cathode channel blockages on the cold start performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    6. Lin, Rui & Zhong, Di & Lan, Shunbo & Guo, Rong & Ma, Yunyang & Cai, Xin, 2021. "Experimental validation for enhancement of PEMFC cold start performance: Based on the optimization of micro porous layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    7. Wei Jiang & Ke Song & Bailin Zheng & Yongchuan Xu & Ruoshi Fang, 2020. "Study on Fast Cold Start-Up Method of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Based on Electric Heating Technology," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-26, August.
    8. Chunjuan Shen & Sichuan Xu & Lei Pan & Yuan Gao, 2021. "A High-Efficiency Cooperative Control Strategy of Active and Passive Heating for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-11, November.
    9. Yuan, Wei & Tang, Yong & Yang, Xiaojun & Wan, Zhenping, 2012. "Porous metal materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells – A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 309-329.
    10. Pengcheng Liu & Sichuan Xu, 2022. "Experimental Research on the Dynamic Characteristics and Voltage Uniformity of a PEMFC Stack under Subzero Temperatures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    11. Knorr, Florian & Sanchez, Daniel Garcia & Schirmer, Johannes & Gazdzicki, Pawel & Friedrich, K.A., 2019. "Methanol as antifreeze agent for cold start of automotive polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 1-10.
    12. Guozhuo Wang & Yoshio Utaka & Shixue Wang, 2020. "Effect of Dual Porous Layers with Patterned Wettability on Low-Temperature Start Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Liu & Cao, Chenxi & Gan, Quanquan & Pei, Hao & Zhang, Qi & Li, Ping, 2022. "Revealing failure modes and effect of catalyst layer properties for PEM fuel cell cold start using an agglomerate model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    2. Zang, Linfeng & Hao, Liang & Zhu, Xiaojing, 2023. "Effect of the pore structure of cathode catalyst layer on the PEM fuel cell cold start process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    3. Bao, Zhiming & Niu, Zhiqiang & Jiao, Kui, 2020. "Gas distribution and droplet removal of metal foam flow field for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    4. Li, Bing & Wan, Kechuang & Xie, Meng & Chu, Tiankuo & Wang, Xiaolei & Li, Xiang & Yang, Daijun & Ming, Pingwen & Zhang, Cunman, 2022. "Durability degradation mechanism and consistency analysis for proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 314(C).
    5. Pan, Weitong & Li, Ping & Gan, Quanquan & Chen, Xueli & Wang, Fuchen & Dai, Gance, 2020. "Thermal stability analysis of cold start processes in PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    6. Yang, Zirong & Jiao, Kui & Wu, Kangcheng & Shi, Weilong & Jiang, Shangfeng & Zhang, Longhai & Du, Qing, 2021. "Numerical investigations of assisted heating cold start strategies for proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    7. Baik, Kyung Don & Seo, Il Sung, 2018. "Metallic bipolar plate with a multi-hole structure in the rib regions for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 333-339.
    8. Pengcheng Liu & Sichuan Xu, 2022. "Experimental Research on the Dynamic Characteristics and Voltage Uniformity of a PEMFC Stack under Subzero Temperatures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-14, April.
    9. Lin, Rui & Zhu, Yike & Ni, Meng & Jiang, Zhenghua & Lou, Diming & Han, Lihang & Zhong, Di, 2019. "Consistency analysis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack during cold start," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 420-432.
    10. Lin, Rui & Zhong, Di & Lan, Shunbo & Guo, Rong & Ma, Yunyang & Cai, Xin, 2021. "Experimental validation for enhancement of PEMFC cold start performance: Based on the optimization of micro porous layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    11. Zhang, Xiaoqing & Yang, Jiapei & Ma, Xiao & Zhuge, Weilin & Shuai, Shijin, 2022. "Modelling and analysis on effects of penetration of microporous layer into gas diffusion layer in PEM fuel cells: Focusing on mass transport," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    12. Wu, Kangcheng & Du, Qing & Zu, Bingfeng & Wang, Yupeng & Cai, Jun & Gu, Xin & Xuan, Jin & Jiao, Kui, 2021. "Enabling real-time optimization of dynamic processes of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: Data-driven approach with semi-recurrent sliding window method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    13. Jiao, Kui & Bachman, John & Zhou, Yibo & Park, Jae Wan, 2014. "Effect of induced cross flow on flow pattern and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 75-82.
    14. Pei, Pucheng & Meng, Yining & Chen, Dongfang & Ren, Peng & Wang, Mingkai & Wang, Xizhong, 2023. "Lifetime prediction method of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on current degradation law," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    15. Zhang, Lu & Liu, Jie & Du, Shaojie & Zhao, Chen, 2024. "Multiphase flow dynamics in metal foam proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    16. Chen, Xi & Yang, Chen & Sun, Yun & Liu, Qinxiao & Wan, Zhongmin & Kong, Xiangzhong & Tu, Zhengkai & Wang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Water management and structure optimization study of nickel metal foam as flow distributors in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    17. Chunjuan Shen & Sichuan Xu & Lei Pan & Yuan Gao, 2021. "A High-Efficiency Cooperative Control Strategy of Active and Passive Heating for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-11, November.
    18. Maximilian Schmitz & Matthias Bahr & Sönke Gößling & Stefan Pischinger, 2023. "Analysis of Ice Formation during Start-Up of PEM Fuel Cells at Subzero Temperatures Using Experimental and Simulative Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-26, September.
    19. Jung, Guo-Bin & Tzeng, Wei-Jen & Jao, Ting-Chu & Liu, Yu-Hsu & Yeh, Chia-Chen, 2013. "Investigation of porous carbon and carbon nanotube layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 457-464.
    20. Zhang, Zhuo & Wang, Qi-yao & Bai, Fan & Chen, Li & Tao, Wen-quan, 2023. "Performance simulation and key parameters in-plane distribution analysis of a commercial-size PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:364:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924005695. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.