• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.20-26
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• 2024

Water management is crucial for the performance, durability, and stability of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs). Due to its importance, various methods for visualizing PEMFC's internal water distribution have been adapted to study and manage water within the cells. However, these methods often require large facilities, leading to high costs and significant barriers to entry. This study addresses these challenges by using a commercial Radiation (X-ray) Generator (RG) for internal water distribution visualization and comparing the results with synchrotron X-ray data from the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL) 9D beamline. Despite the lower resolution and potential beam distortion challenges, the RG shows promise for PEMFC water distribution visualization, suggesting the need for further research to refine water attenuation coefficients and build-up factors for improved measurement accuracy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2007

Water management in polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) has been receiving large attention as an important issue in practical applications. Proper water management is vital to achieve high performance and durability of PEFC. In this study, an X-ray imaging technique was employed to visualize the water distribution in a PEFC quantitatively. X-ray images of the PEFC components with and without water were distinguished clearly. From the visualized X-ray images, we could evaluate the water distribution in the region between separator and gas diffusion layer (GDL) quantitatively. In addition, the contact angle of water in the micro-channels was also clearly visualized.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.101-104
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• 2006

Water management is considered to be one of the main issues to be addressed for the performance improvement of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. For good water management, the detailed information on the water distribution inside an operating PEM fuel cell should be available to main an adequate level of hydration in the PEM While avoiding performance decline due to liquid rater flooding. For the PEM fuel cell to be commercially viable as vehicle applications, the flooding on the cathode side should be minimized during the fuel ceil operation. In this study to investigate cathode flooding and its relation with temperature distribution in flow channels, visualization study was performed on the cathode side of a PEM fuel cell. For the direct visualization of temperature field and water transport in cathode flow channels, a transparent cell was designed and manufactured using quartz window. Water transport and its two-phase flow characteristics in flow channels were investigated experimentally. Also, the visualization of temperature distribution In cathode flow channels was made by using IR camera. Results indicated that the temperature rise near the exit of cathode flow channel was found. It is found that this area corresponds to the flooding area from both temperature and flooding visualization results It is expected that this study can effectively contribute to get the detailed data on water transport linked with heat management during the operation of a PEM fuel cell

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.155-158
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• 2007

Water management for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) has been receiving large attention as an important issue in practical applications. Proper water management is vital to achieve high performance and durability of PEFC. In this study, an X-ray imaging technique was employed to visualize the water distribution in a PEFC quantitatively. X-ray images of the PEFC components with and without water are distinguished clearly. From the visualized X-ray images, we could confirm the water distribution in the region between separator and gas diffusion layer (GDL). In addition, the contact angle of water in the micro-channels was also clearly visualized..

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2004

Flaw visualization and velocity field measurement methods have practical applications in the various fluid engineering fields, such as mechanics, ships, and heat fluids. In this study, the basic principles and theoretical methods are used to establish an application technique of Particle Imae Velocimetry(abbreviated to PIV below). Accordingly, the measured results of velocity field distribution of a section inside the Circulating Water Channel (abbreviated to CWC below) are computed using the PIV is presented. The uniformity of velocity distribution of the section in CWC is confirmed, by comparing this PIV data with the existing current meter data. Also, in order to measure the flaw fields of surroundings of 2-dimensional cylinder in the CWC, the flaw visualization technique using the PIV is applied.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

The study of swirling flow is of technical and scientific interest because it has an internal recirculation field, and its tangential velocity is related to the curvature of streamline. The fluid flow for tubes and elbow of heat exchangers has been studied largely through experiments and numerical methods, but studies about swirling flow have been insufficient. Using the particle image velocimetry(PTV) method, this study found the time averaged velocity distribution with swirl and without swirl along longitude sections and the results appear to be physically reasonable. In addition, streamwise mean velocity distribution was compares with that of other. Furthermore, other experimental investigation was performed to study the characteristics of turbulent water flow in a horizontal circular tube by using liquid crystal. 2D PIV technique is employed for velocity measurement and liquid crystal is used for heat transfer experiments in water. Temperature visualization was made quantitatively by calibrating the colour of the liquid crystal versus temperature using various approaches.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.1658-1663
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• 2004

The feasibility test was performed to check the possibility of 2-phase flow visualization and water distribution at inside the PEMFC using neutron radiography image technique. It was composed using water and pressured air. From the image, several 2-phase flow patterns were discovered and water fraction was estimated by the reference specimen and image analysis.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.449-454
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• 2006

Neutron imaging technique was used to investigate the water distribution and movement in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) at HANARO, KAERI. The Feasibility tests were performed in the first and second exposure rooms at the neutron radiography facility (NRF) at HANARO in order to check the ability of each exposure room, respectively. The feasibility test apparatus was composed of water and pressurized air before making up the actual test apparatus. Due to the low neutron intensity in the second exposure room, the exposure time was too long to investigate the transient phenomena of PEMFC. Although the exposure time was improved to 0.1 sec in the first exposure room, it was difficult to discriminate detail water movement at the channel due to the high noise level. Therefore, the experimental setup must be optimized according to the test conditions. Water discharge characteristics were investigated under different flow field geometries by using feasibility test apparatus and the neutron imaging technique. The water discharge characteristics of a 3-parallel serpentine are superior to those of a 1-parallel serpentine, but water at Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) was not removed, regardless of the flow field type.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.37-41
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• 2012

Plate-fin heat exchanger is a kind of compact heat exchangers with a good performance in heat transfer. It is widely used in various engineering fields such as aerospace, chemical and biomedical industries. Quantitative and qualitative flow visualization study were performed using the water model of commercial plate-fin heat exchanger with header angles of $30^{\circ}$. The Reynolds number was 100. Conventional digital particle image velocimetry was used to measure the instantaneous velocity fields of the header region and the flow visualization using dye injection and hydrogen bubble method were applied to capture the qualitative flow characteristics. The results showed the existence of separation flow region at the junction area and the bottom wall of the exit region.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.965-970
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• 2012

In this study, the water distribution in the cathode side of a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is visualized using a neutron imaging technique at the Neutron Radiography Facility (NRF), KAERI. It is difficult to quantify the water content in the cathode side because of $CO_2$ gas. A compared open circuit voltage (OCV) image, relative $CO_2$, and water distribution can be visualized by the neutron imaging technique. This means that the neutron imaging technique is useful for the optimization of the flow field design and the establishment of water management, and, in turn, for the improvement of the cell performance.