GBPI N600C – Carbon Paper Air Permeability Rate Tester (Fuel Cell GDL)
- Specialized carbon paper air permeability tester for fuel cell Gas Diffusion Layers (GDL) and carbon cloth
- Full testing compliance with GB/T 20042.7-2014 for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)
- Wide gas permeability testing range from 0 to 200,000 mL·mm/(cm2·h·mmHg)
- Dual high-precision sensors: micro-differential pressure (0 ~ 500 Pa ±0.1% F.S.) and mass flow (0 ~ 50 L/min ±1% F.S.)
- Standard square test aperture of 16 cm2 with calibrated specimen thickness normalization
- Automated pneumatic clamping ensuring uniform compressive force across delicate carbon fiber structures
- Touchscreen interface with automatic permeability coefficient calculation and comprehensive USB test logging
Request a quote for this product
The GBPI N600C is a specialized, high-accuracy carbon paper air permeability tester engineered to determine the through-plane gas permeability coefficient, Darcy permeability, and gaseous transport resistance of carbon paper, carbon cloth, gas diffusion layers (GDL), and porous transport layers (PTL) used in hydrogen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and water electrolyzers. Built in strict conformity with GB/T 20042.7-2014 (proton exchange membrane fuel cells — carbon paper gas permeability test method), this instrument provides clean energy material researchers and fuel cell stack manufacturers with precise aerodynamic characterization.
In fuel cell electrochemical reactions, the gas diffusion layer serves a triple role: conducting reactant gases (hydrogen and oxygen/air) from flow field channels uniformly across the catalyst layer, expelling liquid water by-products from electrochemical synthesis, and conducting electrons to the bipolar plates. If the carbon paper possesses insufficient gas permeability, concentration polarization escalates dramatically at high current densities due to mass-transport limitations; conversely, overly porous structures degrade mechanical compressive support and electrical conductivity. Operating as a differential pressure carbon paper air permeability tester, the GBPI N600C clamps the porous carbon specimen between two precision-machined flow chambers, establishing a constant differential pressure gradient and measuring the resulting laminar gas transit volume.
Dual Sensor Architecture: Micro-Pressure & Mass Flow Precision
The instrument incorporates an ultra-sensitive micro-differential pressure transmitter operating across 0 to 500 Pa with 0.1 Pa resolution and 0.1% F.S. accuracy, paired with an electronic thermal mass flow meter spanning 0 to 50 L/min with 1% F.S. precision. This dual-sensing architecture ensures exceptional linearity across both highly dense carbon papers and high-flow treated carbon cloths.
Thickness-Normalized Permeability Calculations
The internal analytical processor automatically combines measured differential pressure, volumetric flow rate, effective test aperture area (16 cm²), and specimen thickness to compute the standardized gas permeability coefficient in mL·mm/(cm²·h·mmHg) without manual calculation errors.
Featuring automated pneumatic clamping, an intuitive color touchscreen, and robust data storage, the N600C is an indispensable instrument for fuel cell component producers, hydrogen vehicle R&D laboratories, and advanced materials institutes.
GBPI N600C Carbon Paper Air Permeability Tester – Technical Specifications
| Technical Parameter | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Test Principle | Through-Plane Constant Differential Pressure Gaseous Flow Quantification |
| Applicable Standards | GB/T 20042.7-2014 (PEMFC Carbon Paper Gas Permeability), ISO 5636, ASTM D737 |
| Permeability Measurement Range | 0 ~ 200,000 mL·mm/(cm²·h·mmHg) [0 ~ 14,701 mL·mm/(cm²·hr·mmAq)] |
| Permeability Resolution | 0.1 mL·mm/(cm²·h·mmHg) |
| Differential Pressure Range & Accuracy | 0 ~ 500 Pa (Resolution: 0.1 Pa; Accuracy: ±0.1% F.S.; Custom ranges available) |
| Volumetric Flow Range & Accuracy | 0 ~ 50 L/min (Resolution: 1 mL/min; Accuracy: ±1% F.S.) |
| Effective Test Aperture Area | 16 cm² (Precision-machined square flow field fixture) |
| Specimen Clamping Mechanism | Automated pneumatic cylinder clamping with regulated compressive pre-load |
| Gas Source Interface | Clean dry compressed air or high-purity Nitrogen (N2), 0.4 ~ 0.6 MPa |
| Overall Dimensions | 410 mm (L) × 295 mm (W) × 365 mm (H) |
| Instrument Net Weight | Approximately 20 kg |
| Power Supply & Power Rating | 110 ~ 250 VAC, 50/60 Hz; Total Power: 100 W |
Key Features & Engineering Highlights
- Dedicated Fuel Cell Standard Compliance: Engineered specifically to meet GB/T 20042.7-2014 for hydrogen fuel cell gas diffusion layer evaluation.
- Extensive Dynamic Permeability Range: Capable of measuring gas permeability up to 200,000 mL·mm/(cm²·h·mmHg).
- Dual High-Precision Sensor System: High-resolution micro-differential pressure sensor (0.1 Pa) paired with thermal mass flow measurement.
- Specimen Thickness Normalization: Integrated software normalizes volumetric transit rates against measured sample thickness automatically.
- Uniform Pneumatic Clamping: Distributes clamping force evenly across delicate carbon fiber matrices without crushing fiber alignments.
- Touchscreen Interactive HMI: Provides intuitive parameter configuration, live graphical flow curves, and automatic statistical averaging.
- USB Data Export & Traceability: Historical test storage with exportable CSV/Excel reports for fuel cell electrode manufacturing traceability.
Standard Package & Accessories
| Item Description | Quantity |
|---|---|
| GBPI N600C Carbon Paper Air Permeability Tester Mainframe | 1 Unit |
| Standard Square Carbon Paper Test Head (16 cm² Effective Area) | 1 Set |
| Pneumatic Gas Input Pressure Regulator & Filter Unit | 1 Set |
| Pneumatic Gas Connection Tubing & Quick-Coupling Fittings | 1 Set |
| Power Supply Cable & Safety Ground Lead | 1 Set |
| Operating Manual & Factory Calibration Certificate | 1 Set |
Target Industry Applications
PEMFC Gas Diffusion Layers (GDL)
Testing gas permeability and water management behavior of carbon fiber paper and carbon cloth substrates used in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
PEM Water Electrolyzers (PTL)
Evaluating gas flow permeability of porous titanium transport layers and sintered metal felts used in green hydrogen generation stacks.
Flow Battery Porous Electrodes
Characterizing fluid permeation and hydraulic permeability of graphite felts and carbon felts used in vanadium redox flow battery energy storage.
Advanced Porous Materials R&D
Determining gas transport coefficients across electrospun nanofiber sheets, aerogels, and porous ceramic membranes.