Effects of Selected Fuel Cell Operating Conditions on the Distribution of Liquid Water in the Cathode Gas Diffusion Layer
Authors: MacDonald John Alexander H , Halter Jonathan , Aroge Fabusuyi Akindele , Lowe Olivia C , Orfino Francesco P , Alvar Esmaeil Navaei , Dutta Monica , Kjeang Erik 
Published: December 2024

Effective water management is required to enable polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) to operate efficiently, particularly at the high current densities needed to make them relevant for transportation and stationary applications. The presence of liquid water can influence the performance of a PEFC when the rate of water production exceeds the rate of water removal [1]. More specifically, accumulation of water within the cell becomes problematic when the pores within the gas diffusion layer (GDL) become filled, resulting in restriction of the transport of reactants to the catalyst layer [2]. Identifying operational conditions that minimize mass transport losses associated with excess water accumulation is crucial for improving the performance of PEFCs, especially at high current densities. Additionally, GDL design plays an important role in reducing mass transport losses, with thermal conductivity being a key factor influencing the distribution of liquid water.

In this work, miniaturized fuel cells were operated under various conditions and imaged in-operando using X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) [3]. This imaging technique facilitates the evaluation of the distribution of liquid water at steady state over a range of operational conditions. The influence of current density on liquid water distribution was assessed at selected cell temperatures between 40°C and 70°C. The results of this study showed high saturations under both the land and the channel regions at 50 °C. However, the channels appeared to be dry at 70 °C, with liquid water present only under the lands. These data were compared to predictions generated using a one-dimensional (1-D) model of the through-plane GDL, which considers specific operating conditions and GDL characteristics, such as thermal conductivity [4]. These results demonstrate that the 1-D model can be used to predict the presence or absence of liquid water within the GDL (and, by extension, PEFC performance) under a broad range of operating conditions. Hence, the 1-D model may be useful for focusing future laboratory investigations.

Keywords – operando, X-ray tomographic microscopy, GDL, water visualization

Acknowledgement

Funding for this research was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Ballard Power Systems, Simon Fraser University, Canada Foundation for Innovation, British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund, and Canada Research Chairs.

References

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