Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode
Asymmetric gas diffusion media (GDM) pairing, which feature distinct GDM at the anode and cathode of the proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), enhance water management compared to symmetric pairing of GDM (anode and cathode GDM are identical). An asymmetric pairing of Freudenberg GDM (H24C3...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/6/1469 |
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| author | Yannick Garsany Cornelius H. Bancroft Robert W. Atkinson III Keith Bethune Benjamin D. Gould Karen E. Swider-Lyons |
| author_facet | Yannick Garsany Cornelius H. Bancroft Robert W. Atkinson III Keith Bethune Benjamin D. Gould Karen E. Swider-Lyons |
| author_sort | Yannick Garsany |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Asymmetric gas diffusion media (GDM) pairing, which feature distinct GDM at the anode and cathode of the proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), enhance water management compared to symmetric pairing of GDM (anode and cathode GDM are identical). An asymmetric pairing of Freudenberg GDM (H24C3 at anode and H23C2 at cathode) reduces ohmic resistances by up to 40% and oxygen transport resistances by 14% en route to 25% higher current density in dry gas flows. The asymmetric GDM pairing effectively hydrates the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) while minimizing liquid water saturation in the cathode compared to a commonly used symmetric GDM pairing of SGL 29BC at the anode and cathode. Superior water management observed with asymmetric GDM in flow-through mode is also realized in dead-ended anode (DEA) mode. Compared to the symmetric GDM pairing, the asymmetric GDM pairing with Freudenberg GDM increases cell voltage at all current densities, extends and stabilizes steady-state voltage behavior, slows voltage decay, and vastly reduces the frequency of anode purge events. These results support that the asymmetric Freudenberg GDM combination renders the PEMFC less prone to anode water saturation and performance loss from the anticipated increase in water back-diffusion during DEA mode operation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:52:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-64cae7e6b1a0429481afcc9cf878fe42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:52:59Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-64cae7e6b1a0429481afcc9cf878fe422022-12-21T23:34:53ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492020-03-01256146910.3390/molecules25061469molecules25061469Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode ModeYannick Garsany0Cornelius H. Bancroft1Robert W. Atkinson III2Keith Bethune3Benjamin D. Gould4Karen E. Swider-Lyons5EXCET, Inc., Springfield, VA 22151, USAUS Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USAEXCET, Inc., Springfield, VA 22151, USAHawaii Natural Energy Institute, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USAUS Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USAUS Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, USAAsymmetric gas diffusion media (GDM) pairing, which feature distinct GDM at the anode and cathode of the proton electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), enhance water management compared to symmetric pairing of GDM (anode and cathode GDM are identical). An asymmetric pairing of Freudenberg GDM (H24C3 at anode and H23C2 at cathode) reduces ohmic resistances by up to 40% and oxygen transport resistances by 14% en route to 25% higher current density in dry gas flows. The asymmetric GDM pairing effectively hydrates the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) while minimizing liquid water saturation in the cathode compared to a commonly used symmetric GDM pairing of SGL 29BC at the anode and cathode. Superior water management observed with asymmetric GDM in flow-through mode is also realized in dead-ended anode (DEA) mode. Compared to the symmetric GDM pairing, the asymmetric GDM pairing with Freudenberg GDM increases cell voltage at all current densities, extends and stabilizes steady-state voltage behavior, slows voltage decay, and vastly reduces the frequency of anode purge events. These results support that the asymmetric Freudenberg GDM combination renders the PEMFC less prone to anode water saturation and performance loss from the anticipated increase in water back-diffusion during DEA mode operation.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/6/1469pemfcsasymmetric &symmetric gdmfreudenbergsgl 29bcdead-ended anode (dea) mode |
| spellingShingle | Yannick Garsany Cornelius H. Bancroft Robert W. Atkinson III Keith Bethune Benjamin D. Gould Karen E. Swider-Lyons Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode Molecules pemfcs asymmetric & symmetric gdm freudenberg sgl 29bc dead-ended anode (dea) mode |
| title | Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode |
| title_full | Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode |
| title_fullStr | Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode |
| title_short | Effect of GDM Pairing on PEMFC Performance in Flow-Through and Dead-Ended Anode Mode |
| title_sort | effect of gdm pairing on pemfc performance in flow through and dead ended anode mode |
| topic | pemfcs asymmetric & symmetric gdm freudenberg sgl 29bc dead-ended anode (dea) mode |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/25/6/1469 |
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