Single phase through-plane permeability of carbon paper gas diffusion layers

Effects of mechanical compression and PTFE content on the through-plane gas permeability of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of PEM fuel cells are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. A new test bed is designed and built which allows pressure drop and air flow rate measurement for various GDL samples. The measured values are used to calculate the through-plane permeability. Various GDLs are obtained and tested over a wide range of PTFE content and compression ratio. The experimental data show a reverse relationship between the through-plane permeability and both PTFE content and mechanical compression. An existing model for through-plane permeability of planar fibrous structures is revisited to develop a model that accommodates effects of PTFE content and mechanical compression. The proposed model captures the trends of the experimental data for the through-plane permeability, measured in the present study or reported by others.

► Effect of compression and PTFE content on the through-plane permeability of GDLs is investigated.
► A unit cell approach combined with a scale analysis method predicts the through-plane permeability.
► A reverse relationship exists between permeability and both compression ratio and PTFE content.