Volume 2: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part I

Investigations of Water Distribution in Different Flow Channel of Pem Fuel Cell via Microfocus X-Ray Tomography Yiqi Liang, Chasen Tongsh , Xu Xie, Zhijun Peng, Kui Jiao

Abstract

In this study, the water distribution in different flow channels of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is investigated experimentally using microfocus X-ray tomography. The high-frequency resistance (HFR) and electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) are introduced to determine the electrochemical characteristics of a cell with different flow channels. It is found that although the serpentine-serpentine (s-s) flow channel configuration has the best drainage effect, its pumping loss and membrane resistance at low humidity are large. Conversely, the drainage effect of the parallel-parallel (p-p) flow channel is the worst, but its membrane resistance and pumping loss are the lowest. It is indicated that the serpentine-parallel (s-p) flow channel has better drainage capacity and performance than the p-p flow channel as well as lower pumping loss and better membrane hydration than the s-s channel.

Keywords Visualization, Flow channel, Water content