In-situ investigation water distribution in polymer electrolyte fuel cell using neutron radiography

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/MA2010-02/10/715· OSTI ID:1023427

Mishler, Jeffrey H ^[1]; Mukundan, Rangachary ^[1]; Borup, Rodney L ^[1]; Wang, Eunkyoung Y ^[2]; Hussey, Daniel S ^[3]; Jacobson, David L ^[3]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory
2. UC/RIVERSIDE
3. NIST

This paper investigates the water content within operating polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells using neutron radiography. We consider fuel cells with various PTFE loadings in their gas diffusion layers (GDL) and microporous layers (MPL), and examine the impacts of MPL/GDL properties on the liquid water behavior and fuel cell performance. Fuel cells are tested at both dry and fully hydrated conditions with different serpentine flow fields. Water contents in the projected areas of channel and land regions are probed. The fuel cell may be subject to more flooding at low current-density operation. Both MPL and GDL wetting properties have substantial impacts on the water content in fuel cell. Cell performance also varies on different scenarios of the MPL/GDL wetting properties. A quad-serpentine channel flow field exhibits higher water content without remarkable change in performance at low current densities. Liquid water profile along the channel is presented and on-set clearly indicated.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1023427
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-10-04629; LA-UR-10-4629
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
CURRENT DENSITY
DIFFUSION
ELECTROLYTES
FUEL CELLS
MEMBRANES
NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY
PERFORMANCE
POLYMERS
PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS
SERPENTINE
WATER
WATER SUPPLY