A CATALYST LAYER FLOODING MODEL FOR POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS

Partha P. Mukherjee, Chao Yang Wang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is widely recognized that the performance degradation and the limiting current behavior in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) are mainly attributed to the excessive build up of liquid water in the cathode side and the resulting flooding phenomena. Liquid water blocks the open pore space in the catalyst layer (CL) and the gas diffusion layer (GDL) leading to hindered oxygen transport and covers the electrochemically active sites in the CL thereby rendering reduced catalytic activity. The CL flooding therefore plays a crucial role in the overall PEFC performance limitation. In order to elucidate the primary mechanisms of liquid water removal out of the CL, the factors affecting CL flooding and to discern the role and contribution of CL flooding on the overall PEFC voltage loss, a CL flooding model has been developed. The flooding model is based on a simplified structure-wettability representation of the PEFC CL and a physical description of water and heat balance along with electrochemical performance analysis. The model shows that the evaporation mechanism, depending upon the cell operating temperature and the GDL thermal conductivity, plays a crucial role in the CL flooding behavior and the cell performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationASME 2008 6th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2008
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages735-741
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)0791843181, 9780791843185
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
EventASME 2008 6th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2008 - Denver, United States
Duration: Jun 16 2008Jun 18 2008

Publication series

NameASME 2008 6th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2008

Conference

ConferenceASME 2008 6th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology, FUELCELL 2008
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityDenver
Period6/16/086/18/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Fuel Technology
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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