Neutron tomographic investigations of water distributions in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stacks

• Published in: Journal of power sources Vol. 219; pp. 120 - 125
• Main Authors: Markötter, Henning, Manke, Ingo, Kuhn, Robert, Arlt, Tobias, Kardjilov, Nikolay, Hentschel, Manfred P., Kupsch, Andreas, Lange, Axel, Hartnig, Christoph, Scholta, Joachim, Banhart, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.12.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Electrochemical conversion: primary and secondary batteries, fuel cells; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Fuel cells; Manifold stack; Neutron imaging; Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); Radiography; Tomography; Water management; Radiography; Tomography; Manifold stack; Water management; Neutron imaging; Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); Water; Polymer electrolytes; Stacking; In situ; Polymer solid electrolyte; Water distribution; Flow field; Non uniform distribution; PEMFC; Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell; Imaging; Water content; Selector switch; Proton exchange membrane fuel cells; Fuel cell
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2012.07.043

Neutron tomography was applied to study the 3D water distribution in full polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks. The water distribution after switch-off of the fuel cell was analyzed over a period of 36 h. We found a slowly increasing water amount in the fuel cell, but only few changes within a time period of 5 h, which is about the time necessary for neutron tomography. In this way, the requirement for successful tomography was obtained. It is demonstrated how the quasi in-situ tomography technique enables us to study the water content in individual flow field channels of three-fold stacks. Flow field as well as stack design issues are addressed by this visualization method showing weak points due to a non-uniform water distribution that can be identified by means of neutron imaging. [Display omitted] ► Water distribution in fuel cell stacks was analyzed by neutron tomography. ► Changes in the water distribution were observed for 36 h after shut-down. ► Best results were achieved when temperature regulation was switched off. ► Separate analysis of individual cells allows optimization of stack design parameters.