Water Transport Analysis in a Polymer Electrolyte Electrolysis Cell Comprised of Gas/Liquid Separating Interdigitated Flow Fields

DOI Web Site 2 Citations 29 References Open Access
  • NAKAJIMA Hironori
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University
  • VEDIYAPPAN Veeramani
    International Institute of Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University
  • MATSUMOTO Hiroshige
    International Institute of Carbon-Neutral Energy Research, Kyushu University
  • SATO Motohiko
    Chemix Co. Ltd.
  • MENDOZA-HERNANDEZ Omar Samuel
    Department of the Spacecraft Engineering, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
  • SHIMA Asuka
    Research and Development Directorate, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
  • SONE Yoshitsugu
    Department of the Spacecraft Engineering, Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI)

Search this article

Description

<p>A novel interdigitated flow field design for polymer electrolyte electrolysis cells (proton exchange membrane water electrolysis cells) composed of oxygen exhaust channels apart from liquid water feed channels has been developed for ground and space applications because the design is advantageous in terms of oxygen/water separation without buoyancy, and dispenses with water circulators for bubble removal in a cell and external separators by natural or centrifugal buoyancy. Finite element modeling of water transport in the polymer electrolyte (proton exchange) membrane in a cell with the interdigitated flow fields is conducted. Current-voltage (I–V) measurement of the cell is also performed for comparison with numerical modeling. Deviation of the experimental I–V characteristics from those of the numerical model indicates a possible water transport path in the in-plane direction of hydrophobic microporous layers (MPLs) coated on gas diffusion layers installed between the anode catalyst layers (CLs) and oxygen flow channels in the cell. Analysis of the deviation associated with the limitation of water transport also suggests fractional bubble coverage of produced oxygen gas at the CLs. The hydrophobic MPL acts to separate oxygen gas and pressurized liquid water due to the capillary pressure, while it determines the limitation of water transport to the CLs with the oxygen bubble coverage.</p>

Journal

  • Electrochemistry

    Electrochemistry 90 (1), 017002-017002, 2022-01-15

    The Electrochemical Society of Japan

Citations (2)*help

See more

References(29)*help

See more

Related Projects

See more

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top