Maier, M;
Dodwell, J;
Ziesche, R;
Tan, C;
Heenan, T;
Majasan, J;
Kardjilov, N;
... Brett, DJL; + view all
(2020)
Mass transport in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyser liquid-gas diffusion layers: A combined neutron imaging and X-ray computed tomography study.
Journal of Power Sources
, 455
, Article 227968. 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227968.
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Abstract
The increasing use of intermittent renewable energy sources calls for novel approaches to large-scale energy conversion and storage. Hydrogen can be readily stored and produced from renewable sources using polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysers (PEMWEs). Mass transport of water and product gas in the liquid-gas diffusion layer (LGDL) is critical for PEMWE performance, particularly at high current densities. In this work, neutron radiography is deployed to measure the spatial distribution of water within three different LGDLs, while X-ray micro-computed tomography (XCT) is used to characterize the microstructure of the LGDL materials. The combination of these two techniques yields valuable insight into water transport within the LGDL. Significant local water heterogeneity is observed and a link between flow-field geometry/location and LGDL mass transport is identified. It is further shown that the pore volume in these LGDLs is significantly under-utilized, pointing the way towards design optimisation of LGDL materials and architectures.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Mass transport in polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyser liquid-gas diffusion layers: A combined neutron imaging and X-ray computed tomography study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227968 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.227968 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | PEM water electrolyser, Neutron imaging, Mass transport, X-ray micro-computed tomography, Liquid-gas diffusion layer, Two-phase flow |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10093354 |
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