Influence of cathode opening size and wetting properties of diffusion layers on the performance of air-breathing PEMFCs

Schmitz, Andreas; Tranitz, M.; Eccarius, Steffen; Weil, André; Hebling, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.10.070

Cited by 61 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Prior experimental studies have investigated a number of design issues like dead-end hydrogen mode [6]; micro-flow channels [7]; plastic flow plates [8], anode current collector [9], and cathode open area [10][11][12] in order to ameliorate the performance and minimise the manufacturing cost of AB-PEMFC. Several numerical models were also developed to identify the optimum cell configurations and operating conditions [13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation of water droplets in an air-breathing PEMFC

Ous

Arcoumanis

2009

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. To be submitted to the Permanent repository link International Journal of Hydrogen 2009Abstract Air-Breathing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (AB-PEMFC) have the potential to supersede lithium ion batteries in portable electronics. However, their water management issue has yet to be resolved to ensure optimum cell performance and safe system operation. In this paper, the formation of water droplets and their aggregation in the cathode flow channels of an operating AB-PEMFC is investigated by direct visualisation under various operating conditions. The developed optical set-up enables observation of droplet formation on the surface of the membrane from the top and side view of the channels simultaneously. The two orthogonal views reveal that during formation the receding and advancing droplet contact angles are almost identical with values that increase, in a similar trend to the droplet height, with increasing droplet diameter. Water films were able to develop and maintain direct contact with the side-wall of the channels even under the effect of gravitational force. The aggregation of water droplets in the channels was strongly influenced by the change in the air and hydrogen stiochiometry conditions. However, these operating parameters appear to have no significant effect on the water extraction from the channels contrary to load and temperature, where temperature has proved to be the most effective water removal mechanism with minimum reduction in the current density of AB-PEMFC.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The formation of water droplets in an air-breathing PEMFC

Ous

Arcoumanis

2009

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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“…-the wide use of exploratory research on such questions as flooding of GDL, water control [45,46], cold startup of FC [2], maximum efficiency of transformation [2,47], mechanism of degradation of GDL during use in FC [48], reliability of performance properties [49], etc.…”

Section: Gdl Design Trends Determined By the Marketmentioning

confidence: 99%

Current trends in the design of gas-diffusion layers for fuel cells

Lysenko

2008

Fibre Chem

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The fundamental trends in the design of porous materials (composites) used as gas-diffusion layers (GDL) for fuel cells (FC) were examined. It was shown that the evolution of the FC market has made it necessary to develop manufacturing processes for production of GDL with optimum specifications that provide for mass production of GDL at low cost. It was shown that the current design of GDL emerged from the technical region of basic functionality into the space defined by the vectors of modern technologies and economic characteristics.Fuel cells (FC) with polymer membranes are increasingly being used in practice as environmentally clean sources of energy. A diagram of the design of FC whose basic components are a polymer membrane, catalyst be d, gas-diffusion layers (GDL), gas-distribution plates, and end plates is shown in Fig. 1 [1]. GDL are one of the most important components of FC [2].Gas-diffusion layers for fuel cells with polymer membranes are primarily made from carbon fibre materialscloth or paper [3]. However, due to the turbulent development of hydrogen energetics, an intensive search is underway for new, designer approaches to the creation, production, and market positioning of GDL [4].Development of GDL as FC design elements (for example, alkaline FC or FC with proton-exchange membranes for astronautics [5]) were basically intended for creating GDL with the required specifications. Cost indexes usually have not been of decisive importance.The specifications -GDL sheet thickness, surface roughness, air permeability, porosity, specific electric resistance in the plane and perpendicular to the surface, etc. -are the reflection of the functions that the GDL must fulfill.In generalizing the opinion of the developers of FC relative to the basic technical functions that the GDL must fulfill, we will talk about the basic functionality of the object of the design.Basic functionality of GDL: delivery of gases and liquid reagents (fuel/oxidant: hydrogen/oxygen, methanol/atmospheric oxygen, etc.) to the necessary electrodes, distribution of the reagents in the necessary and controllable manner; delivery of electrons to the electrodes and catalyst bed and removal from them; mechanical support and protection of membranes and catalyst; assistance in removal of heat; transfer of gas-distribution plate and FC set assembly seal loads; participation of FC set internal parts of both the technically complicated component of the membraneelectrode block (MEB), FC, etc.in the interface, can only be determined in the final unit and in the conditions of use.The basic functionality is an extremely important design element, since it must ensure the specifications and to a great degree the cost indexes which will allow the design product to establish itself in the market.An example of a successful GDL design is the product developed in 1980 by Toray in the form of a fibrous carbon-carbon composite. The structural elements and their mutual position are shown in Fig. 2 [6]. In this material, carbon fibres (CF) 7 μm in diameter are...

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“…Schmitz et al [7] studied the planar air-breathing cells and studied the influence of cathode opening size and wetting properties of diffusion layers on the performance. Schimitz et al [8] applied the printed circuit technology to develop a new type of planar fuel cells consisting of an open cathode and then demonstrated a long-term operation more than 1500 h. Parametric studies for an 80 W stack by varying the relative humidity and the fan-blowing flow rate have been reported by Sohn et al [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forced Air-Breathing PEMFC Stacks

Dhathathreyan

Rajalakshmi

Jayakumar

et al. 2012

International Journal of Electrochemistry

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Air-breathing fuel cells have a great potential as power sources for various electronic devices. They differ from conventional fuel cells in which the cells take up oxygen from ambient air by active or passive methods. The air flow occurs through the channels due to concentration and temperature gradient between the cell and the ambient conditions. However developing a stack is very difficult as the individual cell performance may not be uniform. In order to make such a system more realistic, an open-cathode forced air-breathing stacks were developed by making appropriate channel dimensions for the air flow for uniform performance in a stack. At CFCT-ARCI (Centre for Fuel Cell Technology-ARC International) we have developed forced air-breathing fuel cell stacks with varying capacity ranging from 50 watts to 1500 watts. The performance of the stack was analysed based on the air flow, humidity, stability, and so forth, The major advantage of the system is the reduced number of bipolar plates and thereby reduction in volume and weight. However, the thermal management is a challenge due to the non-availability of sufficient air flow to remove the heat from the system during continuous operation. These results will be discussed in this paper.

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Influence of cathode opening size and wetting properties of diffusion layers on the performance of air-breathing PEMFCs

Cited by 61 publications

References 10 publications

The formation of water droplets in an air-breathing PEMFC

The formation of water droplets in an air-breathing PEMFC

Current trends in the design of gas-diffusion layers for fuel cells

Forced Air-Breathing PEMFC Stacks

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