Experimental investigation of liquid water formation and transport in a transparent single-serpentine PEM fuel cell
Experimental investigation of liquid water formation and transport in a transparent single-serpentine PEM fuel cell
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.04.020
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发表时间：
2007-07
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
D. Spernjak;A. Prasad;S. Advani
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
D. Spernjak;A. Prasad;S. Advani
通过在可操作的透明单蛇形质子交换膜燃料电池中直接实验可视化研究液态水的形成和传输。我们研究了各种气体扩散层 (GDL) 材料在一系列操作条件下从阴极去除水并通过流场的有效性。完整的极化曲线以及电流消耗阶跃变化后的时间演化研究是通过透明电池内同时液态水可视化获得的。在相同的操作条件和电池电流下，阴极流场驱替的水平被认为是GDL材料除水能力的标准。当在相同的电流密度（即产水率）下进行比较时，阴极通道中的液态水量较高，表明水已从催化剂层中有效去除。阳极通道的可视化用于研究微孔层（MPL）对水传输的影响。除非阴极 GDL 具有 MPL，否则在阳极流场中未观察到液态水。阴极侧的 MPL 为催化剂层产生的水形成压力屏障。水被推过膜到达阳极侧，导致靠近氢气出口的阳极流场泛滥。
Liquid water formation and transport were investigated by direct experimental visualization in an operational transparent single-serpentine PEM fuel cell. We examined the effectiveness of various gas diffusion layer (GDL) materials in removing water away from the cathode and through the flow field over a range of operating conditions. Complete polarization curves as well as time evolution studies after step changes in current draw were obtained with simultaneous liquid water visualization within the transparent cell. The level of cathode flow field flooding, under the same operating conditions and cell current, was recognized as a criterion for the water removal capacity of the GDL materials. When compared at the same current density (i.e. water production rate), higher amount of liquid water in the cathode channel indicated that water had been efficiently removed from the catalyst layer. Visualization of the anode channel was used to investigate the influence of the microporous layer (MPL) on water transport. No liquid water was observed in the anode flow field unless cathode GDLs had an MPL. MPL on the cathode side creates a pressure barrier for water produced at the catalyst layer. Water is pushed across the membrane to the anode side, resulting in anode flow field flooding close to the H2exit.