VISUALIZATION STUDY OF CATHODE FLOODING WITH DIFFERENT OPERATING CONDITIONS IN A PEM UNIT FUEL CELL

Han Sang Kim, Tae Hun Ha, Sung Jin Park, Kyoungdoug Min, Minsoo Kim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Visualization technique was used to better understand the water build-up phenomena on the cathode side of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) unit fuel cell. In this study, a transparent PEM unit fuel cell with an active area of 25 cm2 was designed and fabricated to allow for the visualization of cathode channel with fuel cell performance characteristics. Two-phase flow due to the electrochemical reaction of fuel cell was experimentally investigated. The images photographed by CCD camera with various cell temperatures (30-50°C) and different inlet humidification levels were presented in this study. Results indicated that the flooding on the cathode side first occurs near the exit of cathode flow channel. As the fuel cell operating temperature increases, it was found that water droplets tend to evaporate easily because of increased saturation vapor pressure and it can have an influence on lowering the flooding level. The approaches of this study can effectively contribute to the detailed researches on water transport phenomena including modeling water transport of an operating PEM fuel cell.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2005
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages57-63
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)0791837645, 9780791837641
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
EventASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2005 - Ypsilanti, United States
Duration: 23 May 200525 May 2005

Publication series

NameASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2005

Conference

ConferenceASME 2005 3rd International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2005
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityYpsilanti
Period23/05/0525/05/05

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