Polymer electrolyte fuel cells current distribution

This review considers what we believe to be a suitable method to solve a range of electrochemical related problems in science and engineering, i.e., Adomian decomposition. The method is applied to several problems related to the analysis of three dimensional electrodes.4,5 The typical structure of three dimensional electrodes is shown schematically in Figure 1, in terms of two types of electrode. Figure la, is appropriate for electrodes connected by an electrolyte as typically used in synthesis or in batteries, while Figure lb is for electrodes as used in fuel cells, e.g., polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC). In general the models are concerned with determining the concentration and potential (and current) distributions in the structure. 

Schonbauer, S., Kaz, T., Sander, H., and Gulzow, E. (2003) Segmented bipolar plate for the determination of current distribution in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, in 2nd European PEFC Forum 2003, Luceme/Switzerland, Proceedings, vol. 1, pp. 231-237. 

Inoue, G., Matsukuma, Y., and Minemoto, M. (2006) Effect of gas channel depth on current density distribution of polymer electrolyte fuel cell by numerical analysis including gas flow through gas diffusion layer. J. Power Sources, 157 (1), 136-152. 

Chikahisa T, Tabe Y, Kikuta K, Nohara N and Shinohara H (2006), Measurement of water production phenomena, temperature and current densily distributions in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell . Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Fuel Cell Science Engineering and Technology [1/1 (CD-ROM) 97016] 1-6. 

Mench M M, Wang C Y and Ishikawa M (2003), In situ current distribution measurements in polymer electrolyte fuel cells , J. Electrochem. Soc., 150, A1052-A1059. 

Eckl, R., Grinzinger, R. and Lehnert, W. (2006) Current distribution mapping in polymer electrolyte fuel cells - a finite element analysis of measurement uncertainty imposed by lateral currents. J. Power Sources 154, 171-179. 

Mench, M. M., C. Y. Wang, and M. Ishikawa, In-Situ Current Distribution Measurements in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 150, 2003, p. A1052. 

Species, Temperature, and Current Distribution Mapping in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells... 

Boaventura M, Sander H, Friedrich KA et al (2011) The influence of CO on the current density distribution of high temperature polymer electrolyte mtan-brane fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 56 9467-9475... 

Hottinen, T. et al. 2003. Effect of ambient conditions on performance and current distribution of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 33 265-271. 

As shown in Fig. 5 7(b) the solid polymer electrolyte cell comprises a membrane, fuel cell type, porous electrodes and three further components z carbon collector, a platinized titanium anode support and a cathode support made from carbon-fibre paper The collector is moulded in graphite with a fluorocarbon polymer binder A 25 pm thick platinized titanium foil is moulded to the anode side to prevent oxidation. The purpose of the collector is to bnsure even fluid distribution over the active electrode area, to act as the main structural component of the cell, to provide sealing of fluid ports and the reactor and to carry current from one cell to the next E>emineralized water is carried across the cell via a number of channels moulded into the collector These channels terminate in recessed manifold areas each of which is fed from six drilled ports. The anode support is a porous conducting sheet of platinized titanium having a thickness of approximately 250 pm. The purpose of the support is to distribute current and fluid uniformly over the active electrode area. It also prevents masking of those parts of the electrode area which would be covered by the... 

Tabe, Y, Kikuta, K., Chikahisa, T. Kozakai, M. Basic evaluation of separator type specific phenomena of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel-cell by the measurement of water condensation characteristics and current density distribution. J. Power Sources 193 (2009a), pp. 416-424. 

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