GDL construction effects on distribution of reactants and electrical current density in PEMFC

In this article, a two dimensional pore scale model of polymeric fuel cell, which is promising of a clean and renewable energy production, is presented here. Let reactive gases behave as an ideal gas; inhomogeneous anisotropic structure of the gas diffusion layer, is contemplated as a random generated circular porous media. Lattice Boltzmann method is applied to inquire the fluid flow and mass transfer within the cathode microstructure. All parts of the cathode have the same temperature and the electrochemical reaction on the surface of the catalyst layer enters the solution as a boundary condition. Effects of the gas diffusion layer structure (carbon fibers diameters changes) on the flow of reactive gases, molar fraction of various oxygen species, and water vapor within the various parts of the gas diffusion layer as well as the electrical current density are investigated. The results indicate that by increasing the diameter of the carbon fibers in the gas diffusion layer within constant porosity facilitates both the flow of oxygen and the vapor species inside the GDL, while affecting the produced electrical current on the surface of the catalyst layer.