Effect of Mechanical Behaviour of Gas Diffusion Layer Pores with Contact Pressure in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

The structural properties of the gas diffusion layer such as permeability, tortuosity and pore diameter are found helpful in the mathematical modelling and optimization of fuel cells. This study investigates the structural modelling of the gas diffusion layer in view of a change in its pore diameter with the contact pressure at the interface of the gas diffusion layer and bipolar plate. Carbon cloth (ELAT LT 1400W) and gold-coated brass as a current collector are modelled using 3D dedicated modelling software packages. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) fibrous structure is reconstructed by the elliptical seed-shaped structure of the yarns. The exponential decrement in pore diameter (47.26–38.79 µm) of the layer with contact pressure (0.1–0.5 MPa) is observed, leading to unfavourable effects on its transport properties as evident from the performance modelling of the cell.