Effect of gas diffusion layer modulus and land–groove geometry on membrane stresses in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Lu, Zongwen; Kim, Chang Sik; Karlsson, Anette M.; Cross, James C.; Santare, Michael H.

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.01.028

Cited by 42 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…transversely isotropic with in-plane and the out-of-plane elastic moduli of 1500 MPa and 9 MPa respectively [26]. The coefficient of thermal expansion is 2.6 x 10 -9 K -1 .…”

Section: Time [S]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of time-dependent material properties on the mechanical behavior of PFSA membranes subjected to humidity cycling

Khattra

Karlsson

Santare

et al. 2012

Journal of Power Sources

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“…transversely isotropic with in-plane and the out-of-plane elastic moduli of 1500 MPa and 9 MPa respectively [26]. The coefficient of thermal expansion is 2.6 x 10 -9 K -1 .…”

Section: Time [S]mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of time-dependent material properties on the mechanical behavior of PFSA membranes subjected to humidity cycling

Khattra

Karlsson

Santare

et al. 2012

Journal of Power Sources

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“…33 r The diffusion media (i.e. GDL and MPL) and bipolar plates are assumed to be linear elastic, where the diffusion medium is transversely isotropic with in-plane and out-of-plane elastic moduli of 1500 MPa and 9 MPa, respectively 34 and the bipolar plate is isotropic with elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of 10 GPa and 0.25, respectively. Thermal expansion for both of these components has been neglected.…”

Section: Ev Ijmentioning

confidence: 99%

Model-Based Analysis of PFSA Membrane Mechanical Response to Relative Humidity and Load Cycling in PEM Fuel Cells

Hasan

Goshtasbi

Chen

et al. 2018

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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The hydration/dehydration cycling of the membrane during the fuel cell operation and the resulting mechanical stress are in part responsible for the mechanical failures of a polymer electrolyte membrane. To thoroughly investigate the mechanical behaviors of the membrane under in-situ cyclic conditions, in this paper, we have interfaced a comprehensive two-dimensional transient fuel cell transport model with a viscoelastic-plastic membrane mechanical model. The transport model is used to produce the spatiotemporal profiles of membrane water content and temperature in an operating cell, which are then sent to the membrane mechanical model to calculate the mechanical parameters of interest. This provides the extended capability of studying the membrane mechanical response under in-situ conditions, which was not possible with the original mechanical model. The effects of cycling relative humidity and voltage and current at different temperatures on the membrane stresses are studied using the coupled model. It is found that the location of maximum in-plane tensile stress can vary significantly with the operating temperature during voltage cycling, whereas the highest in-plane compressive stress occurs under the land for all cases, particularly near the cathode. The simulation results confirm the need for coupling the two models to capture comprehensive transport phenomena in studying the membrane mechanical behaviors, and represent an important step toward improved understanding of various synergistic mechanical failure mechanisms that affect the membrane in an operating fuel cell. Mechanical failure of the polymer electrolyte membrane in the form of cracks, pin-holes and delamination has been identified as a limiting factor in the durability of the fuel cell. The hydration/dehydration cycling of the membrane during the fuel cell operation and the resulting mechanical stress are in part responsible for the mechanical failures.1,2 For example, the cyclic mechanical stresses have been shown to play a significant role in propagating a crack through the thickness of a membrane.3 Recent in-situ experiments have shown that membrane damage can be dominated by these cracks. 4 Since operation of a fuel cell causes hydration/dehydration cycling along with spatiotemporal variations of temperature that can influence the membrane response as well, 5 it is critical to thoroughly understand the mechanical behavior of the membrane under in-situ conditions, so that alleviating strategies focusing on the fuel cell operating conditions can be developed.Previously, a 2D viscoelastic-plastic membrane model of a representative fuel cell unit volume has been developed in ABAQUS and preliminarily validated. [6][7][8][9][10] In this prior work, the hydration states (water volume fraction) and temperatures at the interface of gas diffusion media and the gas channels are the model inputs. The spatiotemporal water transport in the electrodes and membrane is governed by diffusion only, without the in-situ features including electro-osmotic drag ...

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“…Also, a new compact relationship between the compressive strain, e, and stress, σ, has been presented in the first part of this study for GDL linear compression region as follows: 5 16 105…”

Section: Analytical Model Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Substituting Eqs. [5] and [6] in Eq. [4] The coefficient of variation for unit cell length is also assumed to be constant during compression.…”

Section: Analytical Model Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Analytical Modeling of PEM Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers Deformation under Compression: Part 2 - Nonlinear Behaviour Region

Norouzifard

Bahrami

2014

ECS Trans.

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In the Proton exchange membrane PEM fuel cell stack, the porous gas diffusion layer (GDL) provides mechanical support for the membrane assembly against the compressive loads imposed by bipolar plates. In this paper, using assumption of existing gap between the fibers in the GDL micro-structure, an analytical model proposed in first part of this study for linear region is extended to predict the GDL nonlinear mechanical behaviour in low compressive pressures. The present unit cell model covers salient microstructural parameters and properties of the fibrous porous medium including: carbon fiber diameter, elastic modulus, pore size distribution, gap size distribution between fibers. A comparison between the present model and the GDL stress-strain data shows that the assumption of closing gap between the fibers during compression can accurately describe the GDL nonlinear behaviour. The proposed model also provides useful information about the microstructural properties of the GDL during compression such as gap distribution between fibers that can be used in the GDL transport properties prediction.

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Effect of gas diffusion layer modulus and land–groove geometry on membrane stresses in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Cited by 42 publications

References 23 publications

Effect of time-dependent material properties on the mechanical behavior of PFSA membranes subjected to humidity cycling

Effect of time-dependent material properties on the mechanical behavior of PFSA membranes subjected to humidity cycling

Model-Based Analysis of PFSA Membrane Mechanical Response to Relative Humidity and Load Cycling in PEM Fuel Cells

Analytical Modeling of PEM Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers Deformation under Compression: Part 2 - Nonlinear Behaviour Region

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