Development of a PEFC with Serpentine-Interdigitated Hybrid Pattern Gas Channels

Abstract

Serpentine-interdigitated hybrid pattern gas channels were developed for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). The performance of conventional (triple-serpentine channel), interdigitated and serpentine-interdigitated hybrid pattern gas channels were compared. The performance of the interdigitated channel is significantly higher than that of the conventional channel. However, the interdigitated channel causes flooding under high air utilization. The hybrid pattern channels have the highest performance of the three patterns. A through-pore ratio (A/A 0 ) was also developed. This ratio indicates the level of flooding in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) under the rib. According to calculated values of this ratio, flooding is suppressed when using the hybrid pattern channels.

In-Plane Liquid Water Distribution at the Interface between the Gas Diffusion Layer and Catalyst Layer in the Cathode of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with a Hybrid Pattern Flow Field

“…We reported the performance of this flow field under humidified condition. The performance was better than the other type of flow fields (4). However, the humidifiers have been required to be omitted with respect to the total efficiency and cost of PEFC systems, particularly on the cathode side where the product water can be used for the humidification.…”

In-plane Liquid Water Distribution at the Interface Between the Gas Diffusion Layer and Catalyst Layer in the Cathode of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell with a Hybrid Pattern Flow Field

“…We have developed a serpentine-ingerdigitated hybrid flow field pattern for better water management and oxygen supply than the conventional flow fields. 1 The serpentineingerdigitated hybrid pattern flow field consists of high pressure interdigitated channels and a low pressure serpentine channel as depicted in Fig. 1 .…”