RT Journal Article ID 10669d4e05e2ec08 A1 Tan, Zetao A1 Jia, Li A1 Zhang, Zhuqian T1 WATER VAPOR TRANSPORT WITH CONDENSATION IN A GAS DIFFUSION LAYER OF A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL JF Heat Transfer Research JO HTR YR 2012 FD 2012-04-27 VO 43 IS 2 SP 139 OP 150 K1 proton exchange membrane fuel cell K1 gas diffusion layer K1 micro-porous layer K1 polytetrafluoroethylene K1 vapor condensation AB Water management plays a crucial role in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Experimental investigation of water transport in a gas diffusion layer (GDL) promotes the understanding to transport mechanism in it. Also it is helpful to model constructing. In this study, an ex situ setup is built to investigate water vapor transport process with heat transfer. Gas permeability and vapor condensation amount are measured. It is observed that water vapor condenses and breakthrough the sample when water vapor flows through GDL with temperature gradients between the two sides. The breakthrough phenomenon is different from that of liquid water. According to water vapor condensing mass measurement, the roles of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) loading of GDL and micro-porous layer (MPL) are analyzed based on the experiments on various samples. The results show that the presence of PTFE causes the condensing amount of vapor decreasing. In addition, adding MPL to one side of gas diffusion substrate (GDS) facilitates water transport in the vapor phase. MPL is beneficial to water removal from GDL. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/46784ef93dddff27,142f39d312b1724a,10669d4e05e2ec08.html