Effect Assessment of Surface Treatment and Gas Channel Pitch of Separator on In-Plane Temperature Distribution and Power Generation Performance of a Single-Cell Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

The impact of micro porous layer (MPL) with various thicknesses of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) on heat and mass transfer characteristics, as well as power generation performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC), is investigated. The in-plane temperature distribution on cathode separator back is also measured by thermocamera. It has been found that the power generation performance is improved by the addition of MPL, especially at higher current density condition irrespective of initial temperature of cell (Tini) and relative humidity condition. However, the improvement is not obvious when the thin PEM (Nafion NRE-211; thickness of 25 μm) is used. The increase in temperature from inlet to outlet without MPL is large compared to that with MPL when using thick PEM, while the difference between without MPL and with MPL is small when using thin PEM. It has been confirmed that the addition of MPL is effective for the improvement of power generation performance of single PEFC operated at higher temperatures than normal. However, the in-plane temperature distribution with MPL is not even.

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In-Situ Measurement of In-Plane Temperature Distribution in a Single-Cell Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell by Thermograph : 1st Report, Effect Assessment of Gas Flow Rate at Inlet and Gas Channel Pitch of Separator on In-Plane Temperature Distribution and Power Generation Performance(Thermal Engineering)

TRANSACTIONS OF THE JAPAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Series B ◽

10.1299/kikaib.76.762_342 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 76 (762) ◽

pp. 342-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Akira NISHIMURA ◽

Kenichi SHIBUYA ◽

Atsushi MORIMOTO ◽

Shigeki TANAKA ◽

Masafumi HIROTA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Temperature Distribution ◽

Gas Flow ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽

Thermal Engineering ◽

Gas Flow Rate ◽

Effect Assessment ◽

Gas Channel ◽

Plane Temperature ◽

Power Generation Performance

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Influence of Cell Components Structure on Coupling Phenomena in Single Cell of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell

ASME/JSME 2011 8th Thermal Engineering Joint Conference ◽

10.1115/ajtec2011-44416 ◽

2011 ◽

Author(s):

Akira Nishimura ◽

Atsushi Morimoto ◽

Shigeki Tanaka ◽

Atsushi Oshima ◽

Masafumi Hirota ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Single Cell ◽

Polymer Electrolyte ◽

Gas Diffusion ◽

Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell ◽

Dominant Factor ◽

Gas Channel ◽

Observation Area ◽

Cell Components

The purpose of this study is to point out the dominant factor of heat and mass distribution in single cell of polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). The numerical simulation by simple 3D model of PEFC has been investigated to clarify the influence of cell components structure on heat and mass transfer phenomena in PEFC. In addition, the power generation experiment and the measurement of in-plane temperature distribution by thermograph were carried out. From the simulation results, the gas channel pitch of separator was the key factor to unify in-plane distribution of temperature and gas concentration on the reaction surface. The compression of gas diffusion layer (GDL) by cell binding caused wider distribution of mass concentration in GDL. According to the experimental results, the power generation performance was promoted with the decrease in gas channel pitch irrespective of relative humidity of supply gas. In addition, the temperature range in observation area was lower with the decrease in gas channel pitch.

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