Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Mass Transfer Characteristics in Catalyst Layer of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

TL;DR

This study uses a lattice Boltzmann model to simulate mass transfer in the catalyst layer of high-temperature fuel cells, identifying optimal structural parameters for better performance.

Contribution

A pore-scale lattice Boltzmann model is introduced to analyze mass transport in HT-PEMFC catalyst layers under varying structural parameters.

Findings

Phosphoric acid concentration increases with larger carbon carrier diameter, higher porosity, and higher Pt/C mass ratio.

Air concentration decreases with increases in carbon carrier diameter, porosity, and Pt/C mass ratio.

Optimal CL parameters are 50–80 nm carbon carrier diameter, 60–70% porosity, and 40–50% Pt/C mass ratio.

Abstract

As a critical component of high-temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs), the catalytic layer (CL) significantly influences the overall performance of these systems. In this study, a pore-scale lattice Boltzmann (LB) model was established to simulate the multi-component mass transport in the HT-PEMFC catalyst layer. Based on the reconstruction of CL, the transport behavior of phosphoric acid was simulated. The effects of different carbon carrier diameters, porosity values, and Pt/C mass ratios on the transport of phosphoric acid in CL were studied. The distribution of phosphoric acid and air concentration, as well as the electrochemical surface area, was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Finally, the optimal design parameters of CL structure were determined. The results show that, with increases in carbon carrier diameter, porosity, and Pt/C mass ratio, the distribution of phosphoric acid concentration shows an upward trend, and the distribution of air concentration shows a downward trend. The optimal ranges of carbon carrier diameter, porosity, and Pt/C mass ratio are 50–80 nm, 60–70%, and 40–50%, respectively. This study provides a new idea for further understanding the mass transport mechanism in the HT-PEMFC catalyst layer and provides effective suggestions for the optimization design of the HT-PEMFC catalyst layer structure.

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