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Effect of Porous Metal Flow Field in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell under Pressurized Condition
Author(s) -
Ahn C.Y.,
Lim M. S.,
Hwang W.,
Kim S.,
Park J. E.,
Lim J.,
Choi I.,
Cho Y.H.,
Sung Y.E.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
fuel cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1615-6854
pISSN - 1615-6846
DOI - 10.1002/fuce.201700042
Subject(s) - electrolyte , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , materials science , metal foam , membrane , chemical engineering , fuel cells , metal , flow (mathematics) , porosity , polymer , porous medium , electrochemistry , composite material , electrode , chemistry , metallurgy , mechanics , biochemistry , physics , engineering
A flow field represents an interesting research area related to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as it is a component crucial for the distribution of gas‐phase reactants. In this study, a metal foam was characterized and applied as a flow field in a PEMFC unit cell. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the metal foam was compared with that of the commonly used serpentine flow field. At a relative humidity (RH) of 100%, no significant difference in performance was observed between the metal foam and serpentine flow field. However, the performance of a single cell with the metal foam was superior to that of the common flow field under an RH of 20% under pressurized conditions. Furthermore, the factors affecting fuel cell performance by application of the flow field were discussed.