The Change of Water Distribution in Porous Media of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell after Freeze/thaw Cycles

Fuel Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Ko ◽  
S. Doh ◽  
D. I. Yu ◽  
H. S. Park ◽  
M. H. Kim
Keyword(s):  
Porous Media ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Freeze Thaw ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

Discharge of a Segmented Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

2004 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Berg ◽  
K. Promislow ◽  
J. Stumper ◽  
B. Wetton
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Transient Model ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

We present a transient model for an electrically segmented polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell which is run until extinction from a finite oxygen supply. The experimental cell is divided into 16 electrically isolated pucks which are fed oxygen from a small reserve and hydrogen from a conventional flow field. The experimental voltage and through-plane current in each puck, and puck-to-puck currents are recorded and compared to computed profiles. Seven qualitative characteristics of the current profiles during discharge are identified. These are used as targets for parameter tuning, from which puck-to-puck water distribution within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is inferred. The model is sensitive to system parameters, and holds promise as an in situ diagnostic tool for tracking this distribution by using MEA oxygen transport characteristics.

A Novel Design of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Alhussan
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Porous Media ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Potential Field ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that converts the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. Fuel cells operate continuously if they are provided with the reactant gases, not like batteries. Fuel cells can provide power in wide range. Fuel cells are environmentally friendly; the by-product of hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell is water and heat. This paper will show a numerical modeling for this spiral design of high pressurized Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell. Numerical modeling requires understanding the physical principles of fuel cells, fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transfer in porous media, electrochemical reactions, multiphase flow with phase change, transport of current and potential field in porous media and solid conducting regions, and water transport across the polymer membrane; and this will result in optimal design process. This paper will show fuel cell models that are used in this analysis. Such as; electrochemical model: predicts local current density, voltage distributions. Potential field model: predicts current and voltage in porous and solid conducting regions. Multiphase mixture model: predicts liquid water and gas flow in the porous diffusion layers. Thin film multiphase model: tracks liquid water flow in gas flow passages. The numerical results of the theoretical modeling are shown in this paper. This paper shows the contour plots of mole fraction of H2O, H2, and O2. Results in this research include the species concentration of H2O, H2, and O2. This research also shows the plot of mass concentration of H2O, H2 and O2.

Synchrotron X-Ray Investigation of Membrane Water Distribution in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rupak Banerjee ◽  
Chuzhang Han ◽  
Nan Ge ◽  
Aimy Bazylak
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

Water management is a critical component of extracting optimum performance and efficiency from polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. During fuel cell operation, a balance needs to be maintained between excess water blocking the reactant pathways through the gas diffusion layer, and the requirement for membrane hydration. The ionic conductivity through the membrane depends strongly on the hydration of the membrane. The reactant gases in a PEM fuel cell are supplied through a humidification system to maintain appropriate levels of hydration in the membrane. The removal of the anode humidifier would significantly reduce the balance of plant costs and reduce the volume required for the fuel cell in an automotive setting. However, removing the anode humidification system could have adverse effects on membrane hydration and on fuel cell performance. In this study, the anode humidification was varied and the cell performance and the membrane resistance were monitored. Synchrotron X-ray radiography was conducted simultaneously to visualize the water distribution in the membrane, the gas diffusion layer, and the associated interfaces. It was observed that the anode humidification had a strong impact on the performance of the fuel cell, with the dry condition leading to voltage instability at a current density below 1.0 A/cm2. The membrane water content was observed to decrease with increases in operating current density.

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