In situ PEM fuel cell water measurements
- Los Alamos National Laboratory
Efficient PEM fuel cell performance requires effective water management. The materials used, their durability, and the operating conditions under which fuel cells run, make efficient water management within a practical fuel cell system a primary challenge in developing commercially viable systems. We present experimental measurements of water content within operating fuel cells. in response to operational conditions, including transients and freezing conditions. To help understand the effect of components and operations, we examine water transport in operating fuel cells, measure the fuel cell water in situ and model the water transport within the fuel cell. High Frequency Resistance (HFR), AC Impedance and Neutron imaging (using NIST's facilities) were used to measure water content in operating fuel cells with various conditions, including current density, relative humidity, inlet flows, flow orientation and variable GDL properties. Ice formation in freezing cells was also monitored both during operation and shut-down conditions.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- OSTI ID:
- 960481
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-08-04978; LA-UR-08-4978; TRN: US201006%%1149
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 17; Journal Issue: 1; Conference: 2008 Fuel Cell Seminar and Exposition ; October 27, 2008 ; Phoenin
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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