Validation of cell voltage and water content in a PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell model using neutron imaging for different operating conditions

Energy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 100-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Antonio Salva ◽  
Alfredo Iranzo ◽  
Felipe Rosa ◽  
Elvira Tapia
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Content ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Cell Model ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Neutron Imaging ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

Sensitivity of Thermal Transport and Phase-Change in Thin Porous Layers to the Distribution of the Solid Matrix

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinaykumar Konduru ◽  
Ezequiel Medici ◽  
Jeffrey S. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Mass Transport ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Transport Layer ◽  
Solid Matrix ◽  
High Water Content ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

Understanding the water transport in the Porous Transport Layer (PTL) is important to improve the operational performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). High water content in the PTL and flow channel decreases the transport of the gas reactants to the polymer electrolyte membrane. Dry operating conditions result in increased ohmic resistance of the polymer electrolyte membrane. Both cases result in decreased fuel cell performance. Multi-phase flow in the PTL of the fuel cell is simulated as a network of pores surrounded by the solid material. The pore-phase and the solid-phase of the PTL are generated by varying the parameters of the Weibull distribution function. In the network model, the mass transfer takes place in the pore-phase and the bulk heat transfer takes place in the both the solid-phase and liquid phase of the PTL. Previous studies have looked at the thermal and mass transport in the porous media considering the pore size distribution. In the present study, the sensitivity of the thermal and mass transport to the different arrangements of the solid-phase is carried out and the effect of different solid-phase distributions on the thermal and liquid transport in PTL of PEM fuel cell are discussed.

Effect of Operating Conditions on the Water Transport Phenomena at the Cathode of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang Hern Seo ◽  
Chang Sik Lee
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Water Transport ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Water Droplet ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Transport Phenomena ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Water Flooding ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane

Water management is very important for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell because the fuel cell performance is decreased by flooding phenomena generated by liquid water in the cathode channels. In addition, the proton conductivity and water transport of membrane could become different by hydration contents of membrane. This study is observed water transport phenomena of cathode channels with a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell according to various operating conditions. In order to obtain the water images, the transparent fuel cell consists of polycarbonate window of the cathode end plate and gold coated stainless steel as the flow field and current collector of the cathode. To investigate the effects of operating conditions on the water transport, experiments were conducted under various operating conditions such as cell temperature, cathode flow rate and cathode backpressure. As operating time elapsed, it is observed that the water droplet formation, growth, coalescence and removal occurred in the cathode channel. It can be known that the high cathode flow rate prevents water flooding by removal of water in the cathode flow channel. Also, the quantity of water droplet was increased by the high cathode backpressure.

Current Distribution in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Under Flooding Conditions

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Jamekhorshid ◽  
G. Karimi ◽  
X. Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Current Distribution ◽  
Current Density ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Average Current Density ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Average Current

Non-uniform current distribution in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells results in local over-heating, accelerated ageing, and lower power output than expected. This issue is very critical when fuel cell experiences water flooding. In this work, the performance of a PEM fuel cell is investigated under cathode flooding conditions. A partially flooded GDL model is proposed to study local current density distributions along flow fields over a wide range of cell operating conditions. The model results show as cathode inlet humidity and/or cell pressure increase the average current density for the unflooded portions of the cell increases but the system becomes more sensitive to flooding. Operating the cell at higher temperatures would lead to higher average current densities and the chance of system being flooded is reduced. In addition, higher cathode stoichiometries prevent system flooding but the average current density remains almost constant.

scholarly journals Experimental Analysis of the Performance and Load Cycling of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 608
Author(s):  
Andrea Ramírez-Cruzado ◽  
Blanca Ramírez-Peña ◽  
Rosario Vélez-García ◽  
Alfredo Iranzo ◽  
José Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Cell Performance ◽  
Research Centre ◽  
Automotive Applications ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Load Cycling

In this work, a comprehensive experimental analysis on the performance of a 50 cm2 polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is presented, including experimental results for a dedicated load cycling test. The harmonized testing protocols defined by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission for automotive applications were followed. With respect to a reference conditions representative of automotive applications, the impact of variations in the cell temperature, reactants pressure, and cathode stoichiometry was analyzed. The results showed that a higher temperature resulted in an increase in cell performance. A higher operating pressure also resulted in higher cell voltages. Higher cathode stoichiometry values negatively affected the cell performance, as relatively dry air was supplied, thus promoting the dry-out of the cell. However, a too low stoichiometry caused a sudden drop in the cell voltage at higher current densities, and also caused significant cell voltage oscillations. No significant cell degradation was observed after the load cycling tests.

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