Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B (대한기계학회논문집B)

The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (대한기계학회)
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Study on Flooding Phenomena at Various Stoichiometries in Transparent PEM Unit Fuel Cell

PEM 단위 연료전지 가시화 셀을 이용한 당량비 변화에 따른 플러딩 현상에 관한 연구

  • Received : 2011.12.29
  • Accepted : 2012.03.07
  • Published : 2012.06.01
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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the cathode channel flooding effects at different stoichiometries in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells by using visualization techniques. The phenomena of liquid water formation and removal caused by current variations were also examined experimentally. Tests were conducted at cathode stoichiometries of 1.5 and 2.0, and the anode stoichiometry was fixed at 1.5. It is found that at an air-side stoichiometry of 2.0, liquid water begins to form and the flooding occurs faster than at an air-side stoichiometry of 1.5. Also, when the air-side stoichiometry of 1.5 is maintained, the dry-out phenomena is observed in the dry-out area 7.8 A following the field of flooding. Thus, a stoichiometry of 1.5 produced better performance in terms of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) durability and hydrogen ion conductivity than did a stoichiometry of 2.0, in which dry-out occurs beyond 8A.

본 논문은 고분자 전해질 연료전지 공기극 유로 내부에서 당량비에 따라 발생하는 플러딩 현상을 가시화를 통해 확인하고, 전류 변화에 따른 물의 운송 특성에 관한 연구를 수행하였다. 공기극 당량비는 1.5, 2.0, 연료극 당량비는 1.5로 고정하여 실험을 수행하였다. 연료전지 공기측 당량비 2.0로 공급하였을 때 1.5와 비교하여 짧은 시간에 물이 생성되기 시작하였으며, 플러딩 영역이 빠르게 생성되는 결과가 나타났다. 또한, 공기극 당량비 1.5로 유지하는 경우 플러딩 영역 이후에 건조화 7.8A 이후 구간에서 건조화가 진행되며, 8A 이후구간에서 건조화가 시작되는 공기극 당량비 2.0에서 작동하는 연료전지와 비교하여 넓은 영역에서 물 생성이 활발하게 이루어져 MEA의 내구성과 수소이온전도도가 우수한 결과를 확인하였다.

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References

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