The effects of compression on single and multiphase flow in a model polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell gas diffusion layer

Tranter, Thomas G.; Burns, A. D.; Ingham, D.B.; Pourkashanian, Mohamed

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.11.051

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The Voronoi graph has been used by several pore network modelers as a proxy for a random fibrous medium [21,49,50]. With this approach the edges of the Voronoi graph represent fibers, the Voronoi cells define pores, and the facets between cells are the throat constrictions.…”

Section: A Voronoi Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Versatile and efficient pore network extraction method using marker-based watershed segmentation

2017

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Obtaining structural information from tomographic images of porous materials is a critical component of porous media research. Extracting pore networks is particularly valuable since it enables pore network modeling simulations which can be useful for a host of tasks from predicting transport properties to simulating performance of entire devices. This work reports an efficient algorithm for extracting networks using only standard image analysis techniques. The algorithm was applied to several standard porous materials ranging from sandstone to fibrous mats, and in all cases agreed very well with established or known values for pore and throat sizes, capillary pressure curves, and permeability. In the case of sandstone, the present algorithm was compared to the network obtained using the current state-of-the-art algorithm, and very good agreement was achieved. Most importantly, the network extracted from an image of fibrous media correctly predicted the anisotropic permeability tensor, demonstrating the critical ability to detect key structural features. The highly efficient algorithm allows extraction on fairly large images of 500 3 voxels in just over 200 s. The ability for one algorithm to match materials as varied as sandstone with 20% porosity and fibrous media with 75% porosity is a significant advancement. The source code for this algorithm is provided.

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Section: A Voronoi Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Versatile and efficient pore network extraction method using marker-based watershed segmentation

2017

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“…In operating fuel cells the percolating pathways offer less resistance to fluid flow as less pressure is required to inflate a droplet interface growing in the fuel cell gas channels than to invade smaller pores inside the GDL. Therefore, once a pathway is established the breakthrough pattern is often repeated and liquid droplets can be seen forming at the same positions over and over, as modeled by Tranter et al 1, and observed experimentally by Quesnel et al 33. Saturation at breakthrough is therefore a good indication of average medium saturation during fuel cell operation.…”

Section: Model Developmentmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…A summary of the experimental and numerical studies of the various effects of compression on the GDL can be found in our previous work 1. In general, the effective transport properties (permeability and diffusivity) of the GDL are decreased with compression due to the reduced pore volume and connectivity, while electrical and thermal conductivity increase as contact resistance is reduced.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pore Network Modeling of Compressed Fuel Cell Components with OpenPNM

et al. 2016

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Pore network modelling is used to model water invasion and multiphase transport through compressed PEFC gas diffusion layers. Networks are created using a Delaunay tessellation of randomly placed base-points setting the pore locations and its compliment, the Voronoi diagram, is used to define the location of fibers and resultant pore and throat geometry.The model is validated in comparison to experimental capillary pressure curves obtained on compressed and uncompressed materials. Primary drainage is simulated with an invasion percolation algorithm that sequentially invades pores and throats separately with excellent agreement to experimental data, but required a slight modification to account for the higher aspect ratio of compressed pores.Compression is simulated by scaling the through-plane coordinates in a uniform manner simulating a GDL wholly beneath the current-collector land. The relative permeability and diffusivity show some dependence on uniform compression. In-plane porosity variations introduced by land-channel compression are also investigated which have a marked effect on the limiting current. Saturation at breakthrough does not appear to be dependent on compression but a more important parameter, namely the peak saturation, is shown to influence the fuel cell performance and is dependent on the percolation inlet conditions.

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“…In this regard, several investigations about liquid water removal from various homogenously and non‐homogenously compressed GDLs have been conducted , . However, to the best of authors' knowledge, water is considered as a continuous stream in all of these mentioned investigations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Compression on the Removal of Water Droplet from GDLs of PEM Fuel Cells

2019

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Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with a sound potential for employing in the propulsion systems of green vehicles are currently at a high stage of development. However, appropriate water management is crucial for further development of PEMFCs. In the current investigation, the role of gas diffusion layer (GDL) compression and wettability on the removal of a water droplet from different GDLs with dissimilar levels of compression (0%, 15%, 20%, and 25%) and wettability (contact angles of 80°, 105°, and 150°) is inspected by numerous 3D lattice Boltzmann simulations.The results of this study demonstrate that by increasing of compression level, the droplet ejection will be more probable. Besides, for hydrophobic GDLs (i.e., contact angles of 105°a nd 150°) adding compression will help the removal process, regardless of the compression amount. However, for the hydrophilic GDLs (contact angle of 80°) adding compression is not necessarily helpful.

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The effects of compression on single and multiphase flow in a model polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell gas diffusion layer

Cited by 19 publications

References 46 publications

Versatile and efficient pore network extraction method using marker-based watershed segmentation

Versatile and efficient pore network extraction method using marker-based watershed segmentation

Pore Network Modeling of Compressed Fuel Cell Components with OpenPNM

Effects of Compression on the Removal of Water Droplet from GDLs of PEM Fuel Cells

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