Effects of flow field and diffusion layer properties on water accumulation in a PEM fuel cell

Owejan, Jon P.; Trabold, Thomas A.; Jacobson, David L.; Arif, Muhammad; Kandlikar, Satish G.

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2007.05.044

Cited by 230 publications

(145 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Water saturation in the GDL was observed to decrease when an MPL is present [8,10]. Additionally, the in-plane permeability of a GDL without an MPL is much larger and thus leads to an increased [11]. Excessive loading of the GDL and the MPL with fluoropolymer, however, was shown to induce flooding of the catalyst layers.…”

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confidence: 98%

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Mitigation of Water Management in PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes by Hydrophilic Wicking Microporous Layers

2010

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This study introduces a novel strategy for enhancing the performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells at high current densities by means of an advanced gas diffusion layer design. The incorporation of hydrophilic wicking agents into microporous layers of the cathode gas diffusion layer improves water management, thus increasing the maximum power density of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. Ex-situ measurements with respect to water and vapour transport, and electrochemical polarisation data provide evidence suggesting that the beneficial effect has to be attributed to enhanced liquid water removal through the microporous layer.

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confidence: 98%

“…Two diffusion barriers were found to be located at the MPL/GDL substrate-interface and at the catalyst-MPL boundary. Neutron imaging similarly yields indications that water is accumulated at the landings and the channel bends [11,19].…”

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confidence: 98%

Mitigation of Water Management in PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes by Hydrophilic Wicking Microporous Layers

2010

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“…So the essential issue for PEMFCs can be resolved through appropriate design of flow channels for effective removal of water built on the flow field (bipolar) plates. Nattawut Jaruwasupant and Owejan J.P [7,8] have investigated that to enhance the performance of PEMFC and reliability, it is important to know more about the mechanism that causes a performance loss, like current density distributions, non-uniform concentration, high ionic resistance result of dry membrane and high diffusive resistance because of the flooding on the cathode. Xianguo Li and Chi-Young Jung [9,10] has addressed in their study that Hydration of membrane in the PEMFC is used to keep up the performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of Flow Channel Design and Operating Parameters on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using MATLAB

Lakshminarayanan

Karthikeyan

2016

Period. Polytech. Chem. Eng.

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Operating parameters like pressure, temperature, the stoichiometric ratio of reactants, relative humidity and design parameters like rib width to channel width (L:C), the shape of the flow channel and the number of passes on the flow channel are influencing the performance of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC IntroductionThe PEMFCs are being developed for commercial applications in the areas of transportation, back-up power and portable power. One of the main advantages is the negligible emission of pollutants, like SOx, NOx, particulates and greenhouse gases [1]. It is Eco-friendly power source which is suitable for powering both portable devices and mobile application due to their high energy density and lower operating temperature range [2]. In this paper the performance enhancement of fuel cell by optimizing the influence of various operating and design parameters using CFD Fluent 14.0 and MATLAB software packages. The PEMFC consists of polymer solid electrolyte membrane placed between an anode and a cathode. The electrochemical reaction produces electric current along with water and heat as byproducts. To attain high current, peak power density, proper temperature distribution and optimum water management the various flow channel design was used. S. Simple [3] addressed in his study that the performance of PEMFC has been influenced by the flow channel path length and the flow field design with 1.2,2 stoichiometric ratios, inlet temperatures were 70°C and 80°C, operating pressure was 1.01bar in the anode and the cathode respectively. Dyi-Huey Chang et al. [4] studied the effect of flow channel depth and flow rates on performance of PEMFC and concluded that the optimum flow rate was essential to maintain sufficient pressure, which force the reactant into channel to get proper water balance. Wei-Mon Yan et al [5] studied the impact of flow channel designs on the performance of PEMFC and concluded that the interdigitated flow field having 1.4 times better power output than the conventional flow field design. Nicholas S. Siefert [1] concluded his study that the serpentine channels are very effective to get rid of the liquid because of its high gas velocity. Atul Kumar et al. [6] Optimized the flow channel dimensions and shape in the flow field of a single pass serpentine flow field design. In his study, he concluded that the different shape of cross section leads to the excess hydrogen consumption in the anode, thus it can influence the performance of the PEMFC. However, water accumulation leads the fuel cell performance unpredictable and unreliable under the nominally identical operating conditions. So the essential issue for

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“…Catalyst characterizations using NMR, Raman, FT-IR/ATR-IR, TEM/SEM, XRD, neutron scattering, soft-x ray XPS, etc. have extensively been studied [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13], but they are difficult to observe the dynamic and spatial behavior and transformation of Pt nanoparticles under PEFC operating conditions. In situ time-resolved X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) techniques are very powerful for in situ/ operando investigation of the local coordination structures and oxidation states of supported nanoparticle catalysts under working conditions particularly in such complex systems as PEFCs, involving Pt valence change and Pt-O/ Pt-Pt bonds transformation [14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, 2D and 3D micro-and nano-scale observations of catalysts, batteries, etc. using X-rays have been reported [4,5,7,[11][12][13]. Some of those techniques can provide a new insight into the spatially heterogeneous issue and mechanism for the degradation of Pt/C and Pt-M alloy/C cathode electrocatalyst layers in PEFCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Factors Affecting the Performance and Durability of Cathode Electrocatalysts in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Characterized by In Situ Real Time and Spatially Resolved XAFS Techniques

2014

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The account article treats with the characterizations of the structural and electronic transformations of Pt/C, Pt 3 Co/C, and Pt 3 Ni/C cathode electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) involving Pt charging/discharging, Pt-O bond formation/breaking, and Pt-Pt bond breaking/reformation in cathode potential-jump processes and the rate constants of those transformations in the surface reaction sequences on the cathode electrocatalysts by in situ time-resolved X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) method. Spatially heterogeneous issue and mechanism for the Pt oxidation and degradation of Pt/C cathode electrocatalyst layers in PEFCs under the operating conditions, which should be uncovered for development of next-generation PEFCs, were also characterized by a scanning nano-XAFS mapping method and a laminography-XAFS method, respectively for 2D and 3D visualizations of Pt chemical species in Pt/C cathode electrocatalyst layers. These XAFS techniques provided new insights into critical issues affecting the performance and property of practical PEFCs under the operating conditions.

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Effects of flow field and diffusion layer properties on water accumulation in a PEM fuel cell

Cited by 230 publications

References 18 publications

Mitigation of Water Management in PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes by Hydrophilic Wicking Microporous Layers

Mitigation of Water Management in PEM Fuel Cell Cathodes by Hydrophilic Wicking Microporous Layers

Optimization of Flow Channel Design and Operating Parameters on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using MATLAB

Key Factors Affecting the Performance and Durability of Cathode Electrocatalysts in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Characterized by In Situ Real Time and Spatially Resolved XAFS Techniques

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