Lysenko V.A.1, Lysenko A.A.1, Salnikova P.Y.1, Korzina M.I.2, Mikhalchan A.A.1, Astashkina O.V.1

1Russia, St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design
2Russia, Arkhangelsk, Arkhangelsk State Technical University

system engineering of Porous electrodes 

Manufacturing technologies porous electrode construction and properties analysis are made under several information technologies standards including IDEF. Porous electrodes system engineering including technological development is executed in methodology of complex objects design (Lysenko V.A. Informational model of design. Regional informatics-2008, International conference materials, St. Petersburg, 2008. P. 289). The object (fuel cell gas diffusion layers – GDL) is considered as system SM = <AO, RO, Z> of structural elements (AO – fibres, filaments, nanofibers, particles of the thermoexpanded graphite, etc.) and connections (RO), created for the purpose Z to provide final product (stationary electric plants, cars, buses, mobile devices, etc.) functions F = F(Z) in its full life cycle. F(Z) is defined on set SM in the structure of higher level systems: membrane electrode assembly, fuel cell, fuel battery, final product, market of final products.
GDL ontology map including porous electrodes manufacturing technologies, structural elements, precursor material types (more than 70 components) is developed. 
It is shown that system engineering can be reduced to process optimization of transition from ideas system (SI) through technologies (ST) to designed object (SM), i.e. SM = <SI → ST → SM> (trinity) according to purpose function F(Z).
It is demonstrated that GDL requirements concerning high porosity and, simultaneously, high electrical conductivity are conflicting. The contradiction in porous electrode technical system is resolved by application of fundamental design principle: system function defines its design. 
On the basis of GDL material streams (hydrogen, oxygen, water steam, electric current, heat, etc.) constructions and manufacturing technologies analysis of varios GDL designs gas permeability and electrical conductivity mathematical estimation is made.
4 types of 3-dimensional GDL designs, for which gas permeability and electrical conductivity is more than for Toray TGP-H-60 carbon-carbon composite paper are engineered.
In all designs structural elements are spatially located to form the channels coinciding with a material streams direction.
It is shown that system engineering of porous electrodes allows to optimize their manufacturing technologies, make essentially new, 3D designs.

St. Petersburg State University of Technology and Design
Department of Nanostructures, Fibrous and Composite Materials
Phone: +7-911-297-30-45; (812) 315-06-92
E-mail: thvikm@yandex.ru, valys@mail.ru