Journal of Jilin University(Engineering and Technology Edition) ›› 2022, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (9): 2147-2155.doi: 10.13229/j.cnki.jdxbgxb20220296

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Improved mechanical model of gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Yang XIAO(),Jie WANG,Meng-jun LIU,Fa-qing YANG,Tian-yao ZHANG,Wei LAN()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Automotive Simulation and Control，Jilin University，Changchun 130022，China
  • Received:2022-03-23 Online:2022-09-01 Published:2022-09-13
  • Contact: Wei LAN E-mail:xiaoy2016@jlu.edu.cn;lanwei@jlu.edu.cn

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Abstract:

Aiming at the problem that the mechanical properties of the membrane electrode structure of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell are complex, which makes the simulation analysis results in engineering difficult to match the real situation, the complex mechanical behavior of the gas diffusion layer in the membrane electrode structure was described, and then the accuracy of fuel cell mechanics simulations was improved. First, an improved model of the microstructure of the gas diffusion layer was proposed, and the model parameters were determined by means of experiments. Then, the finite element simulation verification was carried out in Abaqus using the UMAT user subroutine. The experimental and simulation results show that the improved mechanical model can better simulate the nonlinear mechanical behavior of the gas diffusion layer, improve the accuracy of fuel cell engineering simulation, and can be applied to the engineering analysis of fuel cell assembly and mechanical life prediction.

Key words: proton exchange membrane fuel cell, gas diffusion layer, mechanical model, compression load, finite element analysis

CLC Number: 

  • U41

Fig.1

Schematic diagram of structural components of proton exchange membrane fuel cell"

Table 1

GDL types and characteristic parameters"

参数类型
HCP030NHCP030PHCP135
厚度/mm0.30±0.010.30±0.010.32±0.01
密度/（g·cm-3）0.780.780.78
气孔率/%757575
气阻/（mm H2O）<12<12>20

PTFE的质量

分数/%

055
CMPL无无有

Fig.2

Schematic diagram of mechanical test"

Fig.3

Compressed data processing of HCP135"

Fig.4

Dumbbell-shaped specimens for tensile test"

Fig.5

Abaqus finite element model"

Table 2

Material properties of BPP and Gasket"

材料种类密度/（kg·m-3）杨氏模量/MPa泊松比
SUS 3047.93×10-9194 0200.3
PMVS1.35×10-93.450.3

Fig.6

Experimental tooling and specimen"

Fig.7

Compression experimental data and fitting curves"

Fig.8

Tensile test data and fitting curve"

Fig.9

Shear test data and fitting curve"

Fig.10

Relationship between pressure and compression in fuel cell simulation model"

Fig.11

Simulation results of comparison between Xiao's model and linear model"

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