Contact resistance between gas diffusion layer and catalyst layer of PEM fuel cell

Nitta, Iwao; Himanen, Olli; Mikkola, Mikko

doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2007.10.029

Cited by 93 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Additionally, the repetitive channel rib pattern of the bipolar plates results in a highly inhomoge neous compressive load, so that while large strains are produced under the rib, typically between 10 and 40% of the initial thickness [28e30], the region under the channels remains approximately at its initial uncompressed state. This leads to significant spatial variations in GDL thickness and porosity distributions, as well as in electrical [25,26] and thermal [27] bulk conductivities and contact resistances (both at the ribeGDL and membraneeGDL interfaces).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

García-Salaberri

Vera

Zaera

2011

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

115

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Keywords:PEM fuel cells Assembly pressure Gas diffusion layers Inhomogeneous compressionNonlinear orthotropic model a b s t r a c t PEM fuel cell assembly pressure is known to cause large strains in the gas diffusion layer (GDL), which results in significant changes in its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. These changes affect the rates of mass, charge, and heat transport through the GDL, thus impacting fuel cell performance and lifetime. The appropriate modeling of the inhomogeneous GDL compression process associated with the repetitive channel rib pattern is therefore essential for a detailed description of the physical chemical processes that take place in the cell. In this context, the mechanical characterization of the GDL is of special relevance, since its microstructure based on carbon fibers has strongly nonlinear orthotropic properties. The present study describes a new finite element model which fully incorporates the nonlinear orthotropic characteristics of the GDL, thereby improving the prediction of the inhomogeneous compression effects in this key element of the cell. Among other conclusions, the numerical results show that the linear isotropic models widely reported in the literature tend to overestimate the porosity and the partial intrusion of the GDL in the channel region, and may lead to incorrect predictions in terms of interfacial contact pressure distributions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

García-Salaberri

Vera

Zaera

2011

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

115

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As a consequence, the microstructure and the physical properties of the GDL, e.g., porosity, diffusivity, electrical conductivity, etc., are drastically changed under compression. Nitta et al [90,91] extensively investigated the effects of compression (in terms of compressed GDL thickness) on gas permeability, in-plane and through-plane electric conductivities, and contact resistances at interfaces. They found that the compression of GDL reduces gas permeability and contact resistance, while improving bulk conductivity.…”

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confidence: 99%

Visualization of Fuel Cell Water Transport and Performance Characterization under Freezing Conditions

Kandlikar

Rao

et al. 2010

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“…This source term is non-zero in the catalyst layer and zero in other components. For H 2 and O 2 , the source term in the catalyst layer can be written as: [2] where is the stoichiometry coefficient, n is the number of electrons transferred, is the transfer current density and F is Faraday s constant. For water, the source term in the catalyst layer has an additional electro-osmotic drag term and can be written as: [3] where is electro-osmotic drag coefficient for water and is ionic current.…”

Section: Model Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This improper mating can increase the contact resistance and affect PEFC performance. Some experimental studies were performed to quantify the various interfacial resistances [1][2]. The study reported by Makharia et.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Model to Investigate Interfacial Morphology Effects on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Performance

Bajpai

Khandelwal²,

Kumbur³

et al. 2009

ECS Trans.

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The purpose of this work is to investigate the impact of the interfacial contact morphology between the catalyst layer (CL) and micro porous layer (MPL) on the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) performance. A single-phase anisotropic mathematical model has been developed to evaluate the role of interfacial morphology on ohmic, thermal and gas-phase transport. The novel feature of the model is inclusion of directly measured surface morphological information of the cathode catalyst and the micro porous layers. The preliminary results indicate that thermal disruption due interface morphology has low absolute impact in comparison to ohmic disruption. Ultimately, this model will be used as a tool to understand and minimize the PEFC performance loss, and to develop guidelines for optimal CL and MPL surfaces.

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Contact resistance between gas diffusion layer and catalyst layer of PEM fuel cell

Cited by 93 publications

References 22 publications

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

Visualization of Fuel Cell Water Transport and Performance Characterization under Freezing Conditions

Model to Investigate Interfacial Morphology Effects on Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Performance

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