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http://dx.doi.org/10.6110/KJACR.2018.30.3.143

Humidity Distribution and Performance Variation of a PEMFC Multi Stack System According to the Direction of Anodic Supply  

Lee, Yongtaek (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hannam University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering / v.30, no.3, 2018 , pp. 143-148 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study the performance and humidity variation for 2 unit cells connected in series were experimentally measured. The relative flow direction of hydrogen and air was changed from parallel flow to counter flow. Internal humidity distribution was then measured by 5 embedded sensors on each channel. In all experimental conditions, the former unit cell showed a better performance and the gap is noted to be higher when counter flow is applied. The performance was noted to be higher at high humidification case in the parallel flow. However, in the counter flow, the difference of performance according to the humidification is negligible. Hydrogen and air are discharged from the PEMFC unsaturated with water vapor at parallel flow/low humidification condition, which explains lower performance of the PEMFC than other conditions. The humidities in hydrogen and air streams of counter flow were noted to increase rapidly even at low humidification condition and the consequential even hydration of membrane is the reason of higher performance.
Keywords
PEMFC; Humidity distribution; Parallel flow; Counter flow;
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