Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences

Fuel cells are a key technology for clean energy production due to their low environmental impact and their high efficiency, yet optimizing their performance remains challenging, particularly regarding the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The GDL is critical for distributing reactants and removing product...

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Main Authors: Kabouchi Kaoutar, Ettouhami Mohamed Karim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:E3S Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/01/e3sconf_icegc2024_00080.pdf
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author Kabouchi Kaoutar
Ettouhami Mohamed Karim
author_facet Kabouchi Kaoutar
Ettouhami Mohamed Karim
author_sort Kabouchi Kaoutar
collection DOAJ
description Fuel cells are a key technology for clean energy production due to their low environmental impact and their high efficiency, yet optimizing their performance remains challenging, particularly regarding the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The GDL is critical for distributing reactants and removing products within the cell. This study employs a 3D model, built in COMSOL Multiphysics, to simulate and assess fuel cell performance at different GDL porosity levels. The porosity varied from 0.2 to 0.8 in increments of 0.1, while all other material properties were kept constant. The results show that increasing porosity improves performance, with a strong correlation between simulation and experimental data. Polarization curves highlight the effect of GDL porosity on cell efficiency. This model offers valuable insights for optimizing fuel cell designs by adjusting GDL properties, contributing to the development of more efficient, cost-effective, and durable fuel cells for clean energy applications.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher EDP Sciences
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series E3S Web of Conferences
spelling doaj-art-4d6203b687db4b29a1ecc087c11465142025-02-05T10:47:15ZengEDP SciencesE3S Web of Conferences2267-12422025-01-016010008010.1051/e3sconf/202560100080e3sconf_icegc2024_00080Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity DifferencesKabouchi Kaoutar0Ettouhami Mohamed Karim1Equipe de modélisation des structures et systèmes mécaniques, Mohammed V University in Rabat, ENSAMEquipe de modélisation des structures et systèmes mécaniques, Mohammed V University in Rabat, ENSAMFuel cells are a key technology for clean energy production due to their low environmental impact and their high efficiency, yet optimizing their performance remains challenging, particularly regarding the gas diffusion layer (GDL). The GDL is critical for distributing reactants and removing products within the cell. This study employs a 3D model, built in COMSOL Multiphysics, to simulate and assess fuel cell performance at different GDL porosity levels. The porosity varied from 0.2 to 0.8 in increments of 0.1, while all other material properties were kept constant. The results show that increasing porosity improves performance, with a strong correlation between simulation and experimental data. Polarization curves highlight the effect of GDL porosity on cell efficiency. This model offers valuable insights for optimizing fuel cell designs by adjusting GDL properties, contributing to the development of more efficient, cost-effective, and durable fuel cells for clean energy applications.https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/01/e3sconf_icegc2024_00080.pdf
spellingShingle Kabouchi Kaoutar
Ettouhami Mohamed Karim
Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
E3S Web of Conferences
title Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
title_full Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
title_fullStr Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
title_full_unstemmed Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
title_short Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Effects of Gas Diffusion Layer Porosity Differences
title_sort proton exchange membrane fuel cells effects of gas diffusion layer porosity differences
url https://www.e3s-conferences.org/articles/e3sconf/pdf/2025/01/e3sconf_icegc2024_00080.pdf
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AT ettouhamimohamedkarim protonexchangemembranefuelcellseffectsofgasdiffusionlayerporositydifferences