The feasibility of an optical technique is examined for the measurement of the membrane water content in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Transmission of the infrared light of 1.92 μm wavelength is used to measure the water content in the polymer electrolyte membrane. A calibration procedure is examined, and the technique is applied for the transient measurement of a Nafion membrane that gives the value of water diffusion coefficient, consistent with previous reports. The technique is then applied to an operating PEFC to show its applicability for in situ measurement.

Issue Section:
Research Papers
Keywords:
proton exchange membrane fuel cells, diffusion, light transmission
Topics:
Membranes, Optical measurement, Polymers, Water, Transients (Dynamics), Diffusion (Physics), Calibration
1.
Stumper
,
J.
, 2004, “
Diagnostic Tools for Liquid Water in Pem Fuel Cells
, 2004 Fuel Cell Seminar Abstracts (Cd-rom), Paper No. 84.
2.
Ito
,
K.
, and
Ogawa
,
K.
, 1999,
Proc. 36th National Heat Transfer Symposium of Japan
, pp.
211
–
212
.
3.
Tsushima
,
S.
,
Teranishi
,
K.
, and
Hirai
,
S.
, 2004, “
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Water Distribution Within a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane in Fuel Cells
,”
Electrochem. Solid-State Lett.
1099-0062,
7
, pp.
A269
–
A272
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
4.
Satija
,
R.
,
Jacobson
,
D. L.
,
Arif
,
M.
, and
Werner
,
S. A.
, 2004, “
In Situ Neutron Imaging Technique for Evaluation of Water Management Systems in Operating PEM Fuel Cells
,”
J. Power Sources
0378-7753,
129
, pp.
238
–
245
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Shimizu
,
K.
,
Fushinobu
,
K.
, and
Okazaki
,
K.
, 2001, “
Water Transport Characteristics in Nafion Membrane for Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
,”
Proc. 40th JSME Kanto Branch Students Conference
, pp.
189
–
190
.
6.
Zawodzinski
,
T. A.
Jr.,
Derouin
,
C.
,
Radzinski
,
S.
,
Sherman
,
R. J.
,
Smith
,
V. T.
,
Springer
,
T. E.
, and
Gottesfeld
,
S.
, 1993, “
Water Uptake by and Transport Through Nafion 117 Membranes
,”
J. Electrochem. Soc.
0013-4651,
140
, pp.
1041
–
1047
.
Crossref
Search ADS
 
7.
Yeo
,
S. C.
, and
Eisenberg
,
A.
, “
Physical Properties and Supermolecular Structure of Perfluorinated Ion-Containing (Nafion) Polymers
,”
J. Appl. Polym. Sci.
0021-8995,
21
, pp.
875
–
898
(1977).
Crossref
Search ADS
 
8.
Masuda
,
M.
,
Kozawa
,
Y.
,
Sato
,
H.
,
Fushinobu
,
K.
, and
Okazaki
,
K.
, 2002, “
Coupling Phenomena of Electrochemical Reaction and Heat Transport in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell
,”
Trans. Jpn. Soc. Mech. Eng.
0375-9466,
B68
, pp.
209
–
217
(2002) (KIKAI GAKKAI RONBUNSHUU, in Japanese).
9.
Shimoi
,
R.
,
Masuda
,
M.
,
Fushinobu
,
K.
,
Kozawa
,
Y.
, and
Okazaki
,
K.
, “
Visualization of the Membrane Temperature Field of a Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell
,”
J. Tumor Marker Oncol.
, in print.
Copyright © 2006
 by American Society of Mechanical Engineers
You do not currently have access to this content.