Numerical Investigation of Anisotropic Electrical Conductivity Effects in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Year 2017, Issue: Özel Sayı - Special Issue, 2 - 6, 31.12.2017

Gülşah Elden , Mert Taş

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate
numerically the effects of anisotropic electrical conductivity of gas diffusion
layers on charge transport in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. To
achieve this purpose, a single phase, three dimensional and anisotropic model
is developed by using COMSOL Multiphysics 4.2a software. The numerical model is
validated in experimental data which is obtained at the cell temperature of 343
K for the PEM fuel cell having 5x5 cm² active surface area.  To find out numerically the effects of
anisotropic electrical conductivity of gas diffusion layers on charge
transport, two cases are examined. In the first case, the in-plane electrical
conductivity of its is increased gradually as the through plane electrical
conductivity is kept constant. In the second case, while the value of in-plane
electrical conductivity is a constant, the through plane electrical
conductivity is increased. When the both electrical conductivities are compared
for all cases, the through plane conductivity has a greater effect on charge
transport in PEM fuel cell than the in-plane plane electrical conductivity.

Keywords

PEM fuel cell, anisotropic electrical conductivity, numerical model

Supporting Institution

Scientific Research Projects Unit of Erciyes University

Project Number

FYL-2017-7235

Thanks

The authors would like to thank the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Erciyes University for funding and supporting the project under the contract no: FYL-2017-7235.

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