IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v271y2023ics0360544223003146.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Two polytetrafluoroethylene distribution effects on liquid water dynamic behavior in gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with a pore-scale method

Author

Listed:
  • Lai, Tao
  • Qu, Zhiguo

Abstract

The water management capacity of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) is a crucial factor in improving the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells at high current densities. Owing to different hydrophobic properties, the distribution of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) significantly adjusts the distribution of liquid water within the GDL. Moreover, the combined optimization of the pore structure and hydrophobicity further affects the water discharge behavior in the GDL. In this study, an improved stochastic method is proposed to reconstruct the realistic GDL porous structure with in-plane gradient distributed porosity and a microporous layer (MPL) with bending cracks. Subsequently, two forms of nonuniform PTFE distributions in the in-plane and through-plane directions were designed. A three-dimensional multi-relaxation time D3Q19 pseudopotential multicomponent multiphase Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) was adopted to numerically explore the liquid water dynamic behavior in coupled GDL and MPL systems with different combinations of the gradient porosity and gradient wettability distribution. The numerical results indicated that the pore structure water-collection effect, caused by the graded distributed porosity, drives liquid water to accumulate in the layer with relatively large pores. Whereas, the hydrophilic water-collection effect, caused by the graded distributed wettability, drives liquid water to move towards and accumulate in the relatively hydrophilic layer. For in-plane distribution wettability, the coordination of the pore structure and hydrophilic water-collection effect is realized by arranging the layer with a relatively large porosity into a relatively hydrophilic layer. Then the concentration effect of liquid water and the drainage rate is enhanced. For through-plane distribution wettability, the liquid content at the GDL/MPL interface could be significantly reduced by increasing the hydrophobicity of the region in the GDL close to the MPL/GDL interface. The present study consolidates our understanding of the influence mechanism of different PTFE distributions on liquid water transport in GDL/MPL systems, contributing to the optimization of the structural design of the GDL.

Suggested Citation

  • Lai, Tao & Qu, Zhiguo, 2023. "Two polytetrafluoroethylene distribution effects on liquid water dynamic behavior in gas diffusion layer of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with a pore-scale method," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:271:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223003146
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.126920
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544223003146
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2023.126920?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. Hou, Yuze & Deng, Hao & Pan, Fengwen & Chen, Wenmiao & Du, Qing & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "Pore-scale investigation of catalyst layer ingredient and structure effect in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Wong, A.K.C. & Ge, N. & Shrestha, P. & Liu, H. & Fahy, K. & Bazylak, A., 2019. "Polytetrafluoroethylene content in standalone microporous layers: Tradeoff between membrane hydration and mass transport losses in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 549-560.
    3. Wang, Yulin & Xu, Haokai & Zhang, Zhe & Li, Hua & Wang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Lattice Boltzmann simulation of a gas diffusion layer with a gradient polytetrafluoroethylene distribution for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    4. Niu, Zhiqiang & Bao, Zhiming & Wu, Jingtian & Wang, Yun & Jiao, Kui, 2018. "Two-phase flow in the mixed-wettability gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 443-450.
    5. Xing, Lei & Shi, Weidong & Su, Huaneng & Xu, Qian & Das, Prodip K. & Mao, Baodong & Scott, Keith, 2019. "Membrane electrode assemblies for PEM fuel cells: A review of functional graded design and optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 445-464.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mahdavifar, Mehdi & Roozshenas, Ali Akbar & Miri, Rohaldin, 2023. "Microfluidic experiments and numerical modeling of pore-scale Asphaltene deposition: Insights and predictive capabilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Chen, Chaogang & Gao, Yuan, 2024. "Using multi-threshold non-local means joint distribution method to analysis the spatial distribution patterns of binder and fibers in gas diffusion layers of fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).

    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. 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).
    2. Fan, Ruijia & Chang, Guofeng & Xu, Yiming & Xu, Jiamin, 2024. "Investigating and quantifying the effects of catalyst layer gradients, operating conditions, and their interactions on PEMFC performance through global sensitivity analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    3. Wan, Yue & Qiu, Diankai & Yi, Peiyun & Peng, Linfa & Lai, Xinmin, 2022. "Design and optimization of gradient wettability pore structure of adaptive PEM fuel cell cathode catalyst layer," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    4. Zhang, Yong & He, Shirong & Jiang, Xiaohui & Xiong, Mu & Ye, Yuntao & Yang, Xi, 2023. "Three-dimensional multi-phase simulation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance considering constriction straight channel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    5. Li, Yuehua & Pei, Pucheng & Ma, Ze & Ren, Peng & Wu, Ziyao & Chen, Dongfang & Huang, Hao, 2019. "Characteristic analysis in lowering current density based on pressure drop for avoiding flooding in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 248(C), pages 321-329.
    6. Xia, Lingchao & Ni, Meng & He, Qijiao & Xu, Qidong & Cheng, Chun, 2021. "Optimization of gas diffusion layer in high temperature PEMFC with the focuses on thickness and porosity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    7. Teng Teng & Xin Zhang & Qicheng Xue & Baodi Zhang, 2024. "Research of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Modeling on Concentration Polarization under Variable-Temperature Operating Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-17, February.
    8. Guo, Lingyi & Chen, Li & Zhang, Ruiyuan & Peng, Ming & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2022. "Pore-scale simulation of two-phase flow and oxygen reactive transport in gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Effects of nonuniform wettability and porosity," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    9. Xu, Chenyang & Wang, Jian & Wang, Jianzhong & Yang, Kun & Li, Guangzhong & Gao, Wenbin & Wang, Hao & Zhao, Shaoyang, 2024. "Structural optimization study on porous transport layers of sintered titanium for polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyzers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    10. Cui, Peizhe & Xu, Zaifeng & Yao, Dong & Qi, Huaqing & Zhu, Zhaoyou & Wang, Yinglong & Li, Xin & Liu, Zhiqiang & Yang, Sheng, 2022. "Life cycle water footprint and carbon footprint analysis of municipal sludge plasma gasification process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    11. He, Wei & Zhang, Jifang & Guo, Rui & Pei, Chenchen & Li, Hailong & Liu, Shengchun & Wei, Jie & Wang, Yulin, 2022. "Performance analysis and structural optimization of a finned liquid-cooling radiator for chip heat dissipation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 327(C).
    12. Hesham Alhumade & Iqbal Ahmed Moujdin & Saad Al-Shahrani, 2023. "Increasing Output Power of a Microfluidic Fuel Cell Using Fuzzy Modeling and Jellyfish Search Optimization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    13. Riccardo Balzarotti & Saverio Latorrata & Marco Mariani & Paola Gallo Stampino & Giovanni Dotelli, 2020. "Optimization of Perfluoropolyether-Based Gas Diffusion Media Preparation for PEM Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-14, April.
    14. shi, Lei & Tang, Xingwang & Xu, Sichuan & Liu, Ze, 2024. "Numerical research on liquid water removal mechanism and the influence of pore structure on water removal rate based on real pore GDL structure during shutdown purge of fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    15. Shao, Heng & Qiu, Diankai & Peng, Linfa & Yi, Peiyun & Lai, Xinmin, 2019. "Modeling and analysis of water droplet dynamics in the dead-ended anode gas channel for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 842-851.
    16. Wong, A.K.C. & Ge, N. & Shrestha, P. & Liu, H. & Fahy, K. & Bazylak, A., 2019. "Polytetrafluoroethylene content in standalone microporous layers: Tradeoff between membrane hydration and mass transport losses in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 549-560.
    17. 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).
    18. Marco Mariani & Andrea Basso Peressut & Saverio Latorrata & Riccardo Balzarotti & Maurizio Sansotera & Giovanni Dotelli, 2021. "The Role of Fluorinated Polymers in the Water Management of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    19. Haishan Chen & Xiaoping Meng & Dianlei Liu & Wei Wang & Xiaodong Xing & Zhiyong Zhang & Chen Dong, 2022. "Closed-Loop Microbial Fuel Cell Control System Designed for Online Monitoring of TOC Dynamic Characteristics in Public Swimming Pool," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-12, October.
    20. Jiao, Daokuan & Jiao, Kui & Zhong, Shenghui & Du, Qing, 2022. "Investigations on heat and mass transfer in gas diffusion layers of PEMFC with a gas–liquid-solid coupled model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).

    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:271:y:2023:i:c:s0360544223003146. 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.