Abstract
Fuel gas (hydrogen gas) and oxidant gas (air) are supplied to a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) in saturated moist condition to keep a membrane wet. Condensation may occur in the cathode side, since the air is super-saturated by the fuel cell reaction. If the condensed water stay in an electrode, Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) or gas channels, it may affect on the fuel cell performance. In this study, dynamic CT technology which performed 1 CT per 1 sec was developed, and visualization of three-dimensional water distributions in an operating PEFC was measured by using neutron dynamic CT. As a result, it was confirmed that the developed system can measure three-dimensional water distribution in the PEFC and, condensed water had a significant influence on the fuel cell performances.
