Lattice Boltzmann simulations of anisotropic permeabilities in carbon paper gas diffusion layers

The multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with multi-reflection solid boundary conditions is used to study anisotropic permeabilities of a carbon paper gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a fuel cell. The carbon paper is reconstructed using the stochastic method, in which various po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of power sources 2009, Vol.186 (1), p.104-114
Main Authors: Hao, Liang, Cheng, Ping
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anisotropic
Anisotropy
Applied sciences
Carbon
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
Gas diffusion layer
Lattice Boltzmann
Mathematical models
Permeability
Porosity
Simulation
Tortuosity
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Summary:The multiple-relaxation-time (MRT) lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) with multi-reflection solid boundary conditions is used to study anisotropic permeabilities of a carbon paper gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a fuel cell. The carbon paper is reconstructed using the stochastic method, in which various porosities and microstructures are achieved to simulate different samples. The simulated permeability and tortuosity show anisotropic characteristics of the reconstructed carbon papers with in-plane permeability higher than through-plane, and in-plane tortuosity lower than through-plane. The calculated permeabilities are in good agreement with existing measurements. The relationship between the permeability and the porosity is fitted with empirical relations and some fitting constants are determined. Furthermore, the obtained relationship of tortuosity and porosity is used in a fractal model for permeabilities. The results indicate that the fractal model and the Kozeny–Carman equation provide similar predictions on the through-plane permeability of the carbon paper GDL.
ISSN:0378-7753
1873-2755
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.09.086