Meyer, Q;
Ashton, S;
Jervis, R;
Finegan, DP;
Boillat, P;
Cochet, M;
Curnick, O;
... Brett, DJL; + view all
(2015)
The Hydro-electro-thermal Performance of Air-cooled, Open-cathode Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Combined Localised Current Density, Temperature and Water Mapping.
Electrochimica Acta
, 180
pp. 307-315.
10.1016/j.electacta.2015.08.106.
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Abstract
In situ diagnostic techniques provide a means of understanding the internal workings of fuel cells so that improved designs and operating regimes can be identified. Here, a novel metrology approach is reported that combines current and temperature mapping with water visualisation using neutron radiography. The approach enables a hydro-electro-thermal performance map to be generated that is applied to an air-cooled, open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell. This type of fuel cell exhibits a particularly interesting coupled relationship between water, current and heat, as the air supply has the due role of cooling the stack as well as providing the cathode reactant feed via a single source. It is found that water predominantly accumulates under the cooling channels (thickness of 70-100 μm under the cooling channels and 5-25 μm in the active channels at 0.5 A cm−2), in a similar fashion to the lands in a closed-cathode design, but contrary to passive open-cathode systems. The relationship between current, temperature and water accumulation is complex and highly dependent on location within the cell. However, there is a general trend that higher currents and cooling limitations, especially above 0.7 A cm−2 and below 3.9 × 10−3 m3 s−1, leads to temperatures above 60 °C, which dehydrate the membrane (water thickness of 10-25 um) and the cell operates below 0.5 V.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Hydro-electro-thermal Performance of Air-cooled, Open-cathode Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells: Combined Localised Current Density, Temperature and Water Mapping |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.electacta.2015.08.106 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.08.106 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2015. This manuscript version is published under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Non-derivative 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This licence allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work for personal and non-commercial use providing author and publisher attribution is clearly stated. Further details about CC BY licences are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. |
| Keywords: | Air-cooled open-cathode polymer, electrolyte fuel cell, water mapping, neutron imaging, temperature mapping, current mapping |
| 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/1478262 |
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