Citation

BibTex format

@inproceedings{Kucernak:2006,
author = {Kucernak, AR},
title = {Polymer electrolyte fuel cell conductivity distribution measured and its effect on local current distribution},
year = {2006}
}

RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)

TY  - CPAPER
AB - The ability to make spatially resolved measurements in a fuel cell provides one of the most useful ways in which to monitor and optimise the systems performance. The local current distribution is controlled by a number of spatially varying parameters, not least of which are reactant concentration and membrane resistance. Local reactant concentration is dependent on what has happened to the reactant stream before it reaches that point. In a similar way membrane resistance is controlled by the local water stoichiometry which results from a subtle balance between the amounts of water produced and amount of water exchanged with the gas streams. In this paper, measurements of local conductivity and current are used to assess the conditions under which the local reaction rate is controlled by either water stoichiometry or reactant concentration. Previously, it has been shown that under conditions in which reactant concentration is the limiting factor, the current distribution along a single channel follows a relatively simple analytical expression. In this paper we show that experimental current profiles which deviate significantly from this analytical expression can arise from variations in local membrane conductivity. We also show under what conditions these variations arise, and assess the effects this has on operating fuel cells.
AU - Kucernak,AR
PY - 2006///
SN - 0065-7727
TI - Polymer electrolyte fuel cell conductivity distribution measured and its effect on local current distribution
ER -

Contact Details

Prof. Anthony Kucernak

G22B
Molecular Sciences Research Hub (MSRH)
Imperial College London
White City Campus
London
W12 0BZ
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0)20 7594 5831
Fax: +44 (0)20 7594 5804
Email: anthony@imperial.ac.uk