Effects of bolt torque and gasket geometric parameters on open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cells

Xing，Shuang1; Zhao，Chen2; Liu，Wei1; Zou，Jiexin1; Chen，Ming1; Wang，Haijiang1,3

2021-12-01

10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117632

APPLIED ENERGY   影响因子和分区

0306-2619

Open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cells with compact design have attracted increasing attention in the field of portable energy equipment. In view of the open cathode design, these cells usually exhibit large ohmic and mass transfer resistances. Such resistances can be reduced by using optimized bolt torque as well as gasket. The present study explores the effects of bolt torque and gasket geometric parameters on cell performance based on various measurements of polarization curve, high-frequency impedance, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and pressure distribution indentation. Remarkably, a performance improvement of 20.1% is achieved with the increase of torque (1.0–5.0 N·m) due to the decrease of ohmic resistance. However, excess torque (5.5 N·m) results in a 1.3% power reduction due to the increased mass transfer resistance. For the gasket of the cell, reducing the gasket thickness (0.65–0.48 mm) and width (2.5–1.5 mm) leads to the decrease of ohmic resistance and improvement of the cell performance by 3.4%~11.1%. However, the gasket with the minimum thickness (0.40 mm) suffers from a serious mass transfer issue. The relationship between the GDL compression, gasket, and sealing groove is quantitatively introduced to explain how the geometric parameters of the gasket affect the cell performance. Additionally, the longitudinal and transverse deformation of the gasket is considered. It is concluded that the applied torque, GDL compression, gasket, and sealing groove should be reasonably matched to reduce the ohmic resistance and avoid mass transfer limitation.

Bolt torque Contact resistance Deformation Gasket Mass transfer Open-cathode fuel cell

SCI ; EI

英语

第一

WOS:000703871200003

20213410809605

Cathodes ; Deformation ; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ; Gaskets ; Geometry ; Mass transfer ; Ohmic contacts ; Polyelectrolytes ; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) ; Solid electrolytes ; Torque

Pipe Accessories:619.1.1 ; Mass Transfer:641.3 ; Electricity: Basic Concepts and Phenomena:701.1 ; Fuel Cells:702.2 ; Chemistry:801 ; Chemical Agents and Basic Industrial Chemicals:803 ; Organic Polymers:815.1.1 ; Polymer Products:817.1 ; Mathematics:921 ; Physical Properties of Gases, Liquids and Solids:931.2

ENGINEERING

2-s2.0-85113698019

Scopus

1.Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.Research Institute of New Energy Vehicle Technology,Shenzhen Polytechnic,Shenzhen,518055,China
3.Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials for Electric Power,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Xing，Shuang,Zhao，Chen,Liu，Wei,et al. Effects of bolt torque and gasket geometric parameters on open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cells[J]. APPLIED ENERGY,2021,303.

Xing，Shuang,Zhao，Chen,Liu，Wei,Zou，Jiexin,Chen，Ming,&Wang，Haijiang.(2021).Effects of bolt torque and gasket geometric parameters on open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cells.APPLIED ENERGY,303.

Xing，Shuang,et al."Effects of bolt torque and gasket geometric parameters on open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cells".APPLIED ENERGY 303(2021).