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Numerical modeling of two-phase behavior in the PEFC gas diffusion layer

Journal Article ·
OSTI ID:981852

A critical performance limitation in the polymer electrolye fuel cell (PEFC) is attributed to the mass transport loss originating from suboptimal liquid water transport and flooding phenomena. Liquid water can block the porous pathways in the fibrous gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the catalyst layer (CL), thus hindering oxygen transport from the flow field to the electrochemically actives sites in the catalyst layer. In this paper, the study of the two phase behavior and the durability implications due to the wetting characteristics in the carbon paper GDL are presented using a pore-scale modeling framework.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
981852
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-09-08187; LA-UR-09-8187
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English