RT Journal Article ID 398abe91522a6ff0 A1 Murakawa, Hideki A1 Sugimoto, Katsumi A1 Sawada, Masataka A1 Nishizaki, Masataka A1 Asano, Hitoshi A1 Takenaka, Nobuyuki A1 Saito, Yasushi T1 STUDY OF WATER TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS IN THE THROUGH-PLANE DIRECTION JF Multiphase Science and Technology JO MST YR 2015 FD 2016-06-08 VO 27 IS 2-4 SP 117 OP 132 K1 PEFC K1 neutron radiography K1 gas diffusion layer K1 water distribution K1 water transport analysis AB A polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) generates electricity from an electrochemical reaction. However, water accumulation in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) reduces the cell performance. Therefore, the membrane must be kept at the appropriate humidity level for proton conduction. Hence, water management in a PEFC is essential for operation, and it is important to understand the liquid water transport phenomenon in a PEFC. In this study, to clarify the water accumulation phenomenon in the GDL under PEFC operating conditions, neutron radiography was used to visualize and measure the water distribution in the through-plane direction of a small fuel cell. The experimentally and numerically determined 2D water distributions in the through-plane direction of the membrane in the PEFC were compared. The experimental results showed that water accumulation in the GDL under the land was greater than that under the channel during early PEFC operation. Water evacuation from the GDL to the channel occurred mainly around the land corners. The water saturation distributions predicted numerically were similar to the experimental results. The water accumulation rate of the experimental results was lower than that of the numerical results at the beginning of PEFC operation. This was more apparent at a lower current density of 158 mA/cm2. The mole fraction of the vapor in the GDL under the land was higher than that under the channel, and it influenced the water accumulation in the GDL significantly. PB Begell House LK https://www.dl.begellhouse.com/journals/5af8c23d50e0a883,17ea0479488c6b6a,398abe91522a6ff0.html