Impact of the temperature variation on the thermal conductivity of gas diffusion layers for polymer electrolyte fuel cells

AK A., Espinoza-Andaluz M., ÇELİK C., Sunden B., Serhad Soyhan H.

FUEL, vol.345, 2023 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 345
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.128097
  • Journal Name: FUEL
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Communication Abstracts, INSPEC, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Gas diffusion layer, Heat conduction, Thermal conductivity, Temperature variation, Thermal effects, WATER TRANSPORT, PEM, MPL, GDL
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the thermal conductivity of gas diffusion layers (GDLs) when subjected to different operating temperatures. The measurement apparatus is completely designed and the thermal conductivities are evaluated for five different GDL samples. The amount of catalyst material within the GDLs is also considered in the current study. Based on the obtained measurements, thermal conductivity correlations as a function of the operating temperature are proposed. The correlations consider a confidence interval of 95%, and according to the results, they show good predictivity. In this study, the GDL thermal conductivity coefficient functions are proposed. The mentioned correlations can be used to determine the thermal properties of fuel cells for a range of temperatures from 20 degrees C to 80 degrees C.