TY - GEN
T1 - Effects of compression on GDL microstructure by high-resolution X-ray Computed Tomography
AU - Khajeh Hosseini D., Navvab
AU - Sasabe, Takashi
AU - Tokumasu, Takashi
AU - Pasaogullari, Ugur
PY - 2013/12/1
Y1 - 2013/12/1
N2 - Transport phenomena within gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are crucially important for an optimum PEM fuel cell performance. The microstructure properties of the GDLs, such as porosity, tortuosity and pore size distribution govern the transport of fluid, heat and charge. Additionally, PEM fuel cells are assembled under high compression pressure to minimize the contact resistance between components. The compression significantly alters the microstructure of the GDLs, and affects the cell performance substantially by blocking the pathways of liquid and gas species to and from the catalyst layer reaction sites. This study gives detailed understanding on the effect of compression on a GDL microstructure using high resolution X-ray Computed Tomography. Porosity distributions were shown when the GDL is compressed. A significant GDL penetration into the gas channel was observed at high compression pressures.
AB - Transport phenomena within gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are crucially important for an optimum PEM fuel cell performance. The microstructure properties of the GDLs, such as porosity, tortuosity and pore size distribution govern the transport of fluid, heat and charge. Additionally, PEM fuel cells are assembled under high compression pressure to minimize the contact resistance between components. The compression significantly alters the microstructure of the GDLs, and affects the cell performance substantially by blocking the pathways of liquid and gas species to and from the catalyst layer reaction sites. This study gives detailed understanding on the effect of compression on a GDL microstructure using high resolution X-ray Computed Tomography. Porosity distributions were shown when the GDL is compressed. A significant GDL penetration into the gas channel was observed at high compression pressures.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84892735169&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1115/FuelCell2013-18405
DO - 10.1115/FuelCell2013-18405
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84892735169
SN - 9780791855522
T3 - ASME 2013 11th Int. Conf. on Fuel Cell Science, Eng. and Technology Collocated with the ASME 2013 Heat Transfer Summer Conf. and the ASME 2013 7th Int. Conf. on Energy Sustainability, FUELCELL 2013
BT - ASME 2013 11th Int. Conf. on Fuel Cell Science, Eng. and Technology Collocated with the ASME 2013 Heat Transfer Summer Conf. and the ASME 2013 7th Int. Conf. on Energy Sustainability, FUELCELL 2013
T2 - ASME 2013 11th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2013 Collocated with the ASME 2013 Heat Transfer Summer Conference and the ASME 2013 7th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
Y2 - 14 July 2013 through 19 July 2013
ER -