Separate Measurements of Current under the Channels and the Land in a PEM Fuel Cell with an Interdigitated Flow Field

Abstract

Separate in situ measurements of the current densities under the inlet channel, the land and the outlet channel in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell with an interdigitated flow field are conducted. Experiments are carried out by using partiallycatalyzed-membrane electrode assembly (MEA) on the cathode side and full MEA on the anode side. The experimental results show that the current density under the outlet channel is much lower than that under the inlet channel. Further experimental study results show that cathode flow rate and cathode back pressure affect the local current distribution significantly.

Experimental Study of Oxygen Transport Mechanisms in PEMFC Interdigitated Flow Field

“…7 In principle, all segments in their segmented cell are identical, and the current distribution simply indicates uneven distribution of reactant flow rates and other conditions. Luo and Liu 8 used an interesting technique to study the local current. Instead of segmenting a fuel cell hardware, they fabricated three different types of locally catalyzed membranes, that is, catalyst placed under inlet channel only, catalyst under rib only, and catalyst under outlet channel only, and successfully measured the local current at each location.…”