| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1293134 | Journal of Power Sources | 2012 | 6 Pages |
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.
