Performance enhancement of polymer electrolyte fuel cells by combining liquid removal mechanisms of a gas diffusion layer with wettability distribution and a gas channel with microgrooves

JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES

卷:323

Article

Utaka, Yoshio^1,2  Koresawa, Ryo³ 

[1] Tianjin Univ, Sch Mech Engn, 135 Yaguan Rd,Tianjin Haihe Educ Pk, Tianjin 300350, Peoples R China

[2] Tianjin Univ, Minist Educ China, Key Lab Efficient Utilizat Low & Med Grade Energy, Tianjin, Peoples R China

[3] Yokohama Natl Univ, Grad Sch Engn, Yokohama, Kanagawa 2408501, Japan

关键词: Polymer electrolyte fuel cell;    Water management;    Flooding;    Hybrid GDL;    Planar distributed wettability;    Gas channel;    Microgrooves;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.05.036

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Although polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) are commercially available, there are still many problems that need to be addressed to improve their performance and increase their usage. At a high current density, generated water accumulates in the gas diffusion layer and in the gas channels of the cathode. This excess water obstructs oxygen transport, and as a result, cell performance is greatly reduced. To improve the cell performance, the effective removal of the generated water and the promotion of oxygen diffusion in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) are necessary. In this study, two functions proposed in previous reports were combined and applied to a PEFC: a hybrid GDL to form an oxygen diffusion path using a wettability distribution and a gas separator with microgrooves to enhance liquid removal. For a PEFC with a hybrid GDL and a gas separator with microgrooves, the concentration overvoltage of the PEFC was reduced, and the current density limit and maximum power density were increased compared with a conventional PEFC. Moreover, the stability of the cell voltage was markedly improved. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free