Characterization and Diffusion in Reconstructed Gas Diffusion Layer Based on Stochastic Method

Abstract:

This paper aims to build a 3D micro structure of carbon paper gas diffusion layer (GDL) based on morphological parameter of true materials. This method needs to acquire the basic morphological parameter first by scanning the true GDL structure. Then, by confirming the center coordinates of the whole 3D GDL structure, it constructs a layer of fiber structure each time through the loop and stops when reaching the true thickness. The fiber in each layer will be overlapping and intersecting. After finishing the reconstruction, it needs to be transferred to the binary image that is convenient to fluid modeling. This structure model is used to test the permeability, and the results obtained from the stochastic reconstruct method is very close to the results of the true image. From the case study, the permeability characteristic effect with the change of each structure parameter is given. These results will be used for the structure optimization and improvement of the diffusion of GDL structure.

Key words:proton exchange membrane fuel cell; gas diffusion layer; 3D microporous structure model; carbon paper; stochasticbased reconstruction