We present a transient model for an electrically segmented polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell which is run until extinction from a finite oxygen supply. The experimental cell is divided into 16 electrically isolated pucks which are fed oxygen from a small reserve and hydrogen from a conventional flow field. The experimental voltage and through-plane current in each puck, and puck-to-puck currents are recorded and compared to computed profiles. Seven qualitative characteristics of the current profiles during discharge are identified. These are used as targets for parameter tuning, from which puck-to-puck water distribution within the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is inferred. The model is sensitive to system parameters, and holds promise as an in situ diagnostic tool for tracking this distribution by using MEA oxygen transport characteristics.
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May 2005
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Discharge of a Segmented Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell
P. Berg,
P. Berg
Faculty of Science, UOIT
, 2000 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada Phone: +1 905 721 3111 ext. 2457, Fax: +1 905 721 3304,
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K. Promislow,
K. Promislow
Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University
, East Lansing, MI 48824
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J. Stumper,
J. Stumper
Ballard Power Systems
, 4343 North Fraser Way, Burnaby V5J 5J9, Canada,
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B. Wetton
B. Wetton
Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia
, 1984 Mathematics Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada,
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P. Berg
Faculty of Science, UOIT
, 2000 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada Phone: +1 905 721 3111 ext. 2457, Fax: +1 905 721 3304,
K. Promislow
Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University
, East Lansing, MI 48824
J. Stumper
Ballard Power Systems
, 4343 North Fraser Way, Burnaby V5J 5J9, Canada,
B. Wetton
Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia
, 1984 Mathematics Road, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada, J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2005, 2(2): 111-120 (10 pages)
Published Online: December 10, 2004
Article history
Received:
August 16, 2004
Revised:
December 10, 2004
Citation
Berg, P., Promislow, K., Stumper, J., and Wetton, B. (December 10, 2004). "Discharge of a Segmented Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. May 2005; 2(2): 111–120. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1867977
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