• Fazeli, M.; Hinebaugh, J.; Fishman, Z.; Tötzke, C.; Lehnert, W.; Manke, I.; Bazylak, A.: Pore Network Modeling to Explore the Effects of Compression on Liquid Water Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers. Journal of Power Sources 335 (2016), p. 162-171

10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.10.039

Abstract:
The presence of excess liquid water in the gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells can block oxygen diffusion paths to the catalyst layer, hindering cell performance. In addition, cell components are assembled under compressive loads to ensure contact quality between the layered fuel cell materials; however, the effects of high GDL compression on liquid water behavior and related cell performance are unknown. Understanding how compression affects the distribution of liquid water in the GDL is vital for informing the design of improved porous materials for effective water management strategies. The specific distribution of liquid water in the GDL is influenced by a combination of operating condition-sensitive condensation scenarios and the capillary pressure dominated percolation of any such water clusters to the adjacent gas channels. The water distributions resulting from a variety of assumed condensation scenarios can be predicted using the pore network modeling approach