• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.397-403
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• 2015

In this study, water distribution inside a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was measured experimentally. Water distribution is non-uniform because of vigorous chemical reaction and mass transport and has been difficult to measure experimentally. Therefore, much research relied on indirect measuring methods or numerical simulations. In this study, several mini temperature-humidity sensors were installed at the channel for measuring temperature and humidity of the flowing gas throughout the channel. Only one of two electrode channels was humidified externally, and the humidity distribution on the other side was measured, enabling the observation of water transport characteristics under various conditions. Diffusion through the membrane became more vigorous as the temperature of the humidifier rose, but at high current density, electro-osmotic drag became more effective than diffusion.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.7 s.262
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• pp.588-595
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• 2007

The water transport inside a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) varied according to the anodic supply mode. The performance characteristics of a PEFC which can be affected by the water transport were observed with the anodic supply mode. In the flow-through and recirculation mode the performance showed no reduction with time because the flow in the anode was not stagnated. In the dead-end mode, without any discharged gas, the water remains inside of the anode, which caused the reduction of the performance with the lapse of time. However, even in the dead-end mode, little reduction of the performance with time was shown when only the anode was humidified externally. It means that the back-diffusion was the major factor to the accumulation of water in the anode rather than external humidification.