Real Time Monitoring of Temperature of a Micro Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Silicon micro-hole arrays (Si-MHA) were fabricated as a gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a micro fuel cell using the micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) fabrication technique. The resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor was integrated with the GDL on a bipolar plate to measure the temperature inside the fuel cell. Experimental results demonstrate that temperature was generally linearly related to resistance and that accuracy and sensitivity were within 0.5 degrees C and 1.68x10(-3)/degrees C, respectively. The best experimental performance was 9.37 mW/cm(2) at an H-2/O-2 dry gas flow rate of 30/30 SCCM. Fuel cell temperature during operation was 27 degrees C, as measured using thermocouples in contact with the backside of the electrode. Fuel cell operating temperature measured in situ was 30.5 degrees C.