Dynamic response and stability performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with orientational flow channels: An experimental investigation

The dynamic response of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with the load switching determines the operation stability and life of fuel cells. To investigate the dynamic response of proton exchange membrane fuel cells from the perspective of gas and water delivery, the dynamic response of the fuel cell with the parallel and orienta-tional flow channels was tested under different loads and operating conditions. The experimental results show that the dynamic performance of the fuel cell with orientational flow channels is good after the current and voltage loads are switched. The orientational flow channels improve water management, make the water dis-tribution of the flow channels uniform, increase the membrane hydration, and prevent flooding in the local electrode. The voltage variation coefficient of the cell with orientational flow channels is 1.57%, which is smaller than that of the cell with parallel flow channels 35.6%. Thus, the dynamic performance and stability are improved. The overshoot and undershoot of pressure drop are observed which is due to the changing of gas transferring to the electrode when the load is switched. The orientational flow channels improve the gas transfer capacity, which makes more gas enter the electrode to participate in reactions, thus the orientational flow channels improve dynamic performance and decrease dynamic time constant.

Automated summary

The dynamic response of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with orientational flow channels was tested and compared to the response of cells with parallel flow channels. The results showed that the fuel cell with orientational flow channels had good dynamic performance and stability after load switching, improving water management and preventing flooding in the local electrode. The voltage variation coefficient of the cell with orientational flow channels was smaller than that of the cell with parallel flow channels, indicating improved dynamic performance and stability.