Nitrogen Blanketing and Hydrogen Starvation in Dead-Ended-Anode Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells Revealed by Hydro-Electro-Thermal Analysis

作者：Meyer Quentin; Ashton Sean; Torija Sergio; Gurney Chris; Boillat Pierre; Cochet Magali; Engebretsen Erik; Finegan Donal P; Adcock Paul; Shearing Paul R^*; Brett Dan J L^*

来源：Electrochimica Acta, 2016, 203: 198-205.

DOI：10.1016/j.electacta.2016.04.018

• Dead-ended anode
• bypass effect
• neutron imaging
• nitrogen blanketing
• current and temperature mapping

Dead-ended anode operation has a number of practical advantages that simplify system complexity and lower cost for polymer electrolyte fuel cells. However, dead-ended mode leads to performance loss over time which can only be reversed by performing intermittent purge events. This work applies a combined hydro-electro-thermal analysis to an air-cooled open-cathode fuel cell, presenting experimental functional maps of water distribution, current density and temperature. This approach has allowed the identification of a 'nitrogen blanketing' effect due to nitrogen cross-over from the cathode and a 'bypass' effect where a peripheral gap between the gasket and the GDL offers a hydrogen flow 'short circuit' to the border of the electrode. A consequence of high local current density at the margin of the electrode, and resulting high temperatures, may impact the lifetime of the cell in dead-end mode.

• 出版日期2016-6-10