The catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell is commonly represented in mathematical models as an agglomerate structure of carbon catalyst-support particles. There are two prevailing assumptions for the structure of the agglomerates. The first is that the pores are filled with perfluorosulfonated-ionomer (PFSI). The second is that the pores are hydrophilic and are flooded only with liquid water during operation. The objective of this work is to develop numerical models for single water-filled and ionomer-filled agglomerates in a cathode catalyst layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and investigate the properties of oxygen transport, proton transport, and reaction kinetics. The two models provide different solutions for the distribution of oxygen and protons, and produce a different reaction profile within the agglomerate. Previous numerical water-filled ionomer models in the literature have neglected the effect of the ionomer thin film. Therefore, the results obtained for both ionomer and water-filled models could not be easily compared. In this article, the equations developed relate the assumed structure of the agglomerates to the structure of the catalyst layer (CL). Results compare the effect of the thin film thickness in the two different types of agglomerates and relate the phenomena occurring within the agglomerates to overall catalyst layer performance.
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ASME 2011 9th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology collocated with ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
August 7–10, 2011
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5469-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
The Effect of Ionomer Thin Films in Ionomer- and Water-Filled Agglomerate Models
Peter Dobson,
Peter Dobson
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Marc Secanell
Marc Secanell
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Peter Dobson
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Marc Secanell
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Paper No:
FuelCell2011-54259, pp. 601-611; 11 pages
Published Online:
March 22, 2012
Citation
Dobson, P, & Secanell, M. "The Effect of Ionomer Thin Films in Ionomer- and Water-Filled Agglomerate Models." Proceedings of the ASME 2011 9th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology collocated with ASME 2011 5th International Conference on Energy Sustainability. ASME 2011 9th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology. Washington, DC, USA. August 7–10, 2011. pp. 601-611. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FuelCell2011-54259
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