基于有限元方法,利用COMSOL Multiphysics多物理场仿真软件,构建三维质子交换膜燃料电池（PEMFC）单通道数值模型,重点研究螺栓扭矩作用下GDL的变形行为及其对PEMFC电化学性能的影响。模拟结果表明,当螺栓扭矩达到1 N·m时,气体扩散层（GDL）开始侵入流道,且侵入深度随螺栓扭矩的增加而显著增大,导致流道有效截面积减小、气体传输阻力增大,并加剧了水淹风险。此外,螺栓扭矩引起GDL孔隙率在流场脊下区域与流道区域之间的显著非均匀分布,进而导致氧气浓度、含水量及电流密度的空间分布不均,最终降低PEMFC的传质效率,甚至可能引发电池性能的永久性损伤。研究进一步发现,随着螺栓扭矩的增加,燃料电池的最大功率密度呈现先上升后下降的趋势;在考虑GDL侵入效应的条件下,当螺栓扭矩为2.5 N·m时,燃料电池的功率密度达到峰值。
Abstract
Based on the finite element method, a three-dimensional single-channel numerical model of a PEMFC was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics multiphysics simulation software, with a focus on investigating the deformation behavior of the gas diffusion layer （GDL） under bolt torque and its subsequent impact on the electrochemical performance of the PEMFC. The simulation results indicate that when the bolt torque reaches 1 N·m, the GDL begins to intrude into the flow channel, and the intrusion depth increases significantly with rising bolt torque, leading to a reduction in the effective cross-sectional area of the flow channel, increased gas transport resistance, and an elevated risk of flooding. Furthermore, bolt torque induces a pronounced non-uniform distribution of GDL porosity between the regions under the flow-field ribs and those beneath the flow channels, which in turn gives rise to spatially inhomogeneous distributions of oxygen concentration, water content, and current density. This ultimately reduces the mass transfer efficiency of the PEMFC and may even cause permanent damage to the cell performance. The study further reveals that as the bolt torque increases, the maximum power density of the fuel cell exhibits a trend of first increasing and then decreasing; when the GDL intrusion effect is taken into account, the peak power density of the fuel cell is achieved at a bolt torque of 2.5 N·m.
关键词
质子交换膜燃料电池 /
电化学性能 /
孔隙率 /
气体扩散层 /
有限元
Key words
proton exchange membrane fuel cells /
electrochemical properties /
porosity /
gas diffusion layer /
finite element
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