Water Management Layer Research Articles

Novel gas diffusion layer with water management function for PEMFC

The water management of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is a critical technology in developing a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). To maintain the MEA with a satisfactory water content and distribution, a novel gas diffusion layer (GDL) was designed by inserting a water management layer (WML) between the traditional GDL and the catalyst layer of the PEMFC. A simulator was developed for the optimization of the GDL, where the water distribution in the electrode and the profile of the water transport in the polymer membrane could be predicted. For this purpose, the water vapor permeability of the GDL, which was the main variable, was investigated under conditions similar to the PEMFC. Furthermore, the cell performance of the PEMFC with the GDL was tested. The testing results indicated that the water management in the MEA could be significantly improved by using the WML.

PEFC水管理多孔層に関する研究(1) : 水管理多孔層によるセル特性の向上(流体機械2・動力エネルギー)

PEFC水管理多孔層に関する研究(1) : 水管理多孔層によるセル特性の向上(流体機械2・動力エネルギー)

PEFC水管理多孔層に関する研究(2) : セル内水移動の可視化試験(流体機械2・動力エネルギー)

PEFC水管理多孔層に関する研究(2) : セル内水移動の可視化試験(流体機械2・動力エネルギー)

Optimal design of the regenerative gas turbine engine with isothermal heat addition

This paper investigates the moisturized anode and water management of a vapor-feed direct methanol fuel cell operated with neat methanol. Three methods of water management are experimentally compared, including water storage in a fuel reservoir, active water vapor supply and water recovery from the cathode to the anode. A water management layer for water recovery is introduced to the cathode, which is made of a quasi-superhydrophobic sintered porous metal plate (SPMP) to enhance water back diffusion (WBD). Results prove that each of these methods can improve the cell performance. WBD enhancement based on the use of a SPMP is proven to be the most effective way. It is also found that combination of different methods may more promote the cell performance. Using a WBD enhancement layer under the condition of active water vapor supply can completely eliminate performance decline in the early stage of constant-load discharging. For fully-passive operation, a higher catalyst loading at the cathode helps retain stable performance when a WBD enhancement layer is used. Based on this design, the passive vapor-feed DMFC fed with neat methanol can achieve a maximum power density of 21 mW cm−2.