IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v262y2023ipbs0360544222024136.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Efficient X-ray CT-based numerical computations of structural and mass transport properties of nickel foam-based GDLs for PEFCs

Author

Listed:
  • Ercelik, Mustafa
  • Ismail, Mohammed S.
  • Ingham, Derek B.
  • Hughes, Kevin J.
  • Ma, Lin
  • Pourkashanian, Mohamed

Abstract

Nickel foams are excellent candidate materials for gas diffusion layers (GDLs) for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) and this is due to their superior structural and transport properties. A highly computationally-efficient framework has been developed to not only estimate the key structural and mass transport properties but also to examine the multi-dimensional uniformity and/or the isotropy of these properties. Specifically, multiple two-dimensional X-ray CT images and/or numerical models have been used to computationally determine the porosity, the tortuosity, the pore size distribution, the ligament thickness, the specific surface area, the gas permeability and the effective diffusivity of a typical nickel foam sample. The results show that, compared to the conventionally used carbon substrate, the nickel foam sample demonstrate a high degree of uniformity and isotropy and that it has superior structural and mass transport properties, thus underpinning its candidacy as a GDL material for PEFCs. All the computationally-estimated properties, which were found to be consistent with the corresponding literature data, have been presented and thoroughly discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ercelik, Mustafa & Ismail, Mohammed S. & Ingham, Derek B. & Hughes, Kevin J. & Ma, Lin & Pourkashanian, Mohamed, 2023. "Efficient X-ray CT-based numerical computations of structural and mass transport properties of nickel foam-based GDLs for PEFCs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:262:y:2023:i:pb:s0360544222024136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.125531
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544222024136
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125531?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. Kaushal, Shweta & Sahu, A.K. & Rani, Monika & Dhakate, S.R., 2019. "Multiwall carbon nanotubes tailored porous carbon fiber paper-based gas diffusion layer performance in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 604-611.
    2. Carton, J.G. & Olabi, A.G., 2010. "Design of experiment study of the parameters that affect performance of three flow plate configurations of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 2796-2806.
    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. Lee, F.C. & Ismail, M.S. & Ingham, D.B. & Hughes, K.J. & Ma, L & Lyth, S.M. & Pourkashanian, M., 2022. "Alternative architectures and materials for PEMFC gas diffusion layers: A review and outlook," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    5. Wang, Yifei & Leung, Dennis Y.C. & Xuan, Jin & Wang, Huizhi, 2017. "A review on unitized regenerative fuel cell technologies, part B: Unitized regenerative alkaline fuel cell, solid oxide fuel cell, and microfluidic fuel cell," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 775-795.
    6. Ismail, M.S. & Hughes, K.J. & Ingham, D.B. & Ma, L. & Pourkashanian, M., 2012. "Effects of anisotropic permeability and electrical conductivity of gas diffusion layers on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 50-63.
    7. Carton, J.G. & Olabi, A.G., 2017. "Three-dimensional proton exchange membrane fuel cell model: Comparison of double channel and open pore cellular foam flow plates," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 185-195.
    8. Ijaodola, O.S. & El- Hassan, Zaki & Ogungbemi, E. & Khatib, F.N. & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Thompson, James & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Energy efficiency improvements by investigating the water flooding management on proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 246-267.
    9. Ali A. Hmad & Nihad Dukhan, 2021. "Cooling Design for PEM Fuel-Cell Stacks Employing Air and Metal Foam: Simulation and Experiment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-19, May.
    10. Rachela G. Milazzo & Stefania M. S. Privitera & Silvia Scalese & Salvatore A. Lombardo, 2019. "Effect of Morphology and Mechanical Stability of Nanometric Platinum Layer on Nickel Foam for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-11, August.
    11. Aldakheel, F. & Ismail, M.S. & Hughes, K.J. & Ingham, D.B. & Ma, L. & Pourkashanian, M. & Cumming, D. & Smith, R., 2020. "Gas permeability, wettability and morphology of gas diffusion layers before and after performing a realistic ex-situ compression test," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1082-1091.
    12. Shin, Dong Kyu & Yoo, Jin Hyuk & Kang, Dong Gyun & Kim, Min Soo, 2018. "Effect of cell size in metal foam inserted to the air channel of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for high performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 663-675.
    13. Liang, L. & Diao, Y.H. & Zhao, Y.H. & Wang, Z.Y. & Bai, F.W., 2020. "Numerical and experimental investigations of latent thermal energy storage device based on a flat micro-heat pipe array–metal foam composite structure," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1195-1208.
    14. Tan, Weng Cheong & Saw, Lip Huat & Thiam, Hui San & Xuan, Jin & Cai, Zuansi & Yew, Ming Chian, 2018. "Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 181-197.
    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. Kermani, M.J. & Moein-Jahromi, M. & Hasheminasab, M.R. & Ebrahimi, F. & Wei, L. & Guo, J. & Jiang, F.M., 2022. "Application of a foam-based functionally graded porous material flow-distributor to PEM fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    2. 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).
    3. Abdollahzadeh, M. & Ribeirinha, P. & Boaventura, M. & Mendes, A., 2018. "Three-dimensional modeling of PEMFC with contaminated anode fuel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 939-959.
    4. Yuan, Zhenyu & Zhang, Manna & Zuo, Kaiyuan & Ren, Yongqiang, 2018. "The effect of gravity on inner transport and cell performance in passive micro direct methanol fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 28-37.
    5. 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).
    6. Blal, Mohamed & Benatiallah, Ali & NeÇaibia, Ammar & Lachtar, Salah & Sahouane, Nordine & Belasri, Ahmed, 2019. "Contribution and investigation to compare models parameters of (PEMFC), comprehensives review of fuel cell models and their degradation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 182-199.
    7. Tan, Weng Cheong & Saw, Lip Huat & Thiam, Hui San & Xuan, Jin & Cai, Zuansi & Yew, Ming Chian, 2018. "Overview of porous media/metal foam application in fuel cells and solar power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 181-197.
    8. Awin, Yussef & Dukhan, Nihad, 2019. "Experimental performance assessment of metal-foam flow fields for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C), pages 1-1.
    9. Abdul Ghani Olabi & Tabbi Wilberforce & Abdulrahman Alanazi & Parag Vichare & Enas Taha Sayed & Hussein M. Maghrabie & Khaled Elsaid & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2022. "Novel Trends in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-35, July.
    10. Son, Jonghyun & Um, Sukkee & Kim, Young-Beom, 2022. "Relationship between number of turns of serpentine structure with metal foam flow field and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 372-383.
    11. Tabbi Wilberforce & Oluwatosin Ijaodola & Ahmad Baroutaji & Emmanuel Ogungbemi & Abdul Ghani Olabi, 2022. "Effect of Bipolar Plate Material on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, March.
    12. Lian, Yunsong & Zhu, Zhengchao & You, Changtang & Lin, Liangliang & Lin, Fengtian & Lin, Le & Huang, Yating & Zhou, Wei, 2023. "Structural optimization of fiber porous self-humidifying flow field plates applied to proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    13. Isaac C. Okereke & Mohammed S. Ismail & Derek B. Ingham & Kevin Hughes & Lin Ma & Mohamed Pourkashanian, 2023. "Single- and Double-Sided Coated Gas Diffusion Layers Used in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: A Numerical Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, May.
    14. Sankar, K. & Thakre, Niraj & Singh, Sumit Mohan & Jana, Amiya K., 2017. "Sliding mode observer based nonlinear control of a PEMFC integrated with a methanol reformer," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1126-1143.
    15. Wu, Horng-Wen & Shih, Gin-Jang & Chen, Yi-Bin, 2018. "Effect of operational parameters on transport and performance of a PEM fuel cell with the best protrusive gas diffusion layer arrangement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 47-58.
    16. Myo-Eun Kim & Young-Jun Sohn, 2020. "Study on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells with Nonhumidification Using Metal Foam in Dead-Ended Operation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-12, March.
    17. Yang, Zirong & Du, Qing & Jia, Zhiwei & Yang, Chunguang & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "Effects of operating conditions on water and heat management by a transient multi-dimensional PEMFC system model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 462-476.
    18. Huang, Ruike & Peng, Yiqiang & Yang, Jibin & Xu, Xiaohui & Deng, Pengyi, 2022. "Correlation analysis and prediction of PEM fuel cell voltage during start-stop operation based on real-world driving data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    19. Calili-Cankir, Fatma & Ismail, Mohammed S. & Ingham, Derek B. & Hughes, Kevin J. & Ma, Lin & Pourkashanian, Mohamed, 2023. "Air-breathing polymer electrolyte fuel cells: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C), pages 86-108.
    20. Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ijaodola, O. & Ogungbemi, Emmanuel & Khatib, F.N. & Leslie, T. & El-Hassan, Zaki & Thomposon, J. & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Technical evaluation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance – A review of the effects of bipolar plates coating," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.

    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:energy:v:262:y:2023:i:pb:s0360544222024136. 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.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    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.