Quasi in situ neutron tomography on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stacks

Abstract

Quasi in situ neutron tomography is applied to polymer electrolyte membrane PEM fuel cell stacks for a cell by cell detection of liquid water agglomerates. Water distributions in the corresponding anodic and cathodic flow fields are separated and analyzed. The influence of the membrane thickness and effects of the electroosmotic drag and of back diffusion from the cathode to the anode on the water distribution is investigated. Furthermore the well known engineering problem of the anomalous behavior of the outermost cells in long multi stacks is addressed. The suitability of neutron tomography to support the development of fuel cells is show