This paper provides an overview of the application of minichannels, typically on the order of 1 mm hydraulic diameter, in the design of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In these electrochemical devices, minichannels deliver reactant hydrogen and oxygen to the anode and cathode electrodes, respectively, while transporting product water out of the cell. The channels must be designed for low pressure drop, to avoid excessive parasitic power losses from gas handling equipment. However, the channels also need to operate in a flow regime in which the overall water balance in the fuel cell can be maintained. The various aspects of minichannel design, including size and cross-sectional shape, are discussed, with particular emphasis on fuel cell water management. In addition to reviewing these fundamental aspects of minichannel design, examples are given of new experimental tools currently under development which are applied to relate channel water transport and accumulation to fuel cell performance.
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ASME 2004 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels
June 17–19, 2004
Rochester, New York, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Nanotechnology Institute
ISBN:
0-7918-4164-2
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Minichannels in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells
Thomas A. Trabold
Thomas A. Trabold
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
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Thomas A. Trabold
General Motors Corporation, Honeoye Falls, NY
Paper No:
ICMM2004-2326, pp. 119-127; 9 pages
Published Online:
December 2, 2008
Citation
Trabold, TA. "Minichannels in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells." Proceedings of the ASME 2004 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels. ASME 2nd International Conference on Microchannels and Minichannels. Rochester, New York, USA. June 17–19, 2004. pp. 119-127. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICMM2004-2326
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