A new in situ measurement method of mapping the current density distribution in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is used to analyze the performance of a fuel cell under different operating conditions. The present method is useful in investigating the current density distribution in a single cell as well as a stack, which carries the information about the local reactant activity over the electrode area. It was found that the current density close to the gas inlets is strongly influenced by the reactants' relative humidity. The performance close to the gas outlets is greatly influenced by the inlet gas pressures and the stoichiometry factors of the reactant gases, mainly on the cathode side. It was also observed that the performance of the fuel cell drops with the increase in operating temperature if the reactant gases are not sufficiently humidified.
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e-mail: pc.ghosh@ncl.res.in
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August 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
Analysis of Single PEM Fuel Cell Performances Based on Current Density Distribution Measurement
P. C. Ghosh,
P. C. Ghosh
Physical Chemistry Division,
e-mail: pc.ghosh@ncl.res.in
National Chemical Laboratory
, Pune-411008, India
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T. Wüster,
T. Wüster
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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H. Dohle,
H. Dohle
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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N. Kimiaie,
N. Kimiaie
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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J. Mergel,
J. Mergel
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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D. Stolten
D. Stolten
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
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P. C. Ghosh
Physical Chemistry Division,
National Chemical Laboratory
, Pune-411008, Indiae-mail: pc.ghosh@ncl.res.in
T. Wüster
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
H. Dohle
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
N. Kimiaie
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
J. Mergel
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, Germany
D. Stolten
Institute for Materials and Processes in Energy Systems (IWV-3),
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH (FZJ)
, 52425 Jülich, GermanyJ. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Aug 2006, 3(3): 351-357 (7 pages)
Published Online: November 10, 2005
Article history
Received:
April 22, 2005
Revised:
November 10, 2005
Citation
Ghosh, P. C., Wüster, T., Dohle, H., Kimiaie, N., Mergel, J., and Stolten, D. (November 10, 2005). "Analysis of Single PEM Fuel Cell Performances Based on Current Density Distribution Measurement." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. August 2006; 3(3): 351–357. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2173664
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