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High resolution neutron radiography analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Published

Author(s)

Daniel S. Hussey, David L. Jacobson

Abstract

Neutron radiography enables direct visualization and quantification of many water transport phenomena in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The advantage of the technique is that neutrons have a long penetration length through most common PEMFC materials of construction (with a 1/e length of about 11 cm for aluminum), while having a relatively short 1/e length for water (of order 3 mm). This sensitivity to water enables precise measurements via neutron radiography of the water content in an operating PEMFC that are primarily limited by systematic measurement uncertainties. Recent advances in the spatial resolution of neutron detector technology enable direct measurement of the through¬ plane water content. This new data provides gas diffusion layer water profiles that can serve as input or comparison data for a large class of one-dimensional PEMFC models. In this article, the technique of neutron radiography is discussed, with an emphasis on the quantitative image analysis of the through plane water content.
Citation
Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry

Keywords

Neutron imaging, Neutron radiography, Proton exchange membrane fuel cell, through plane water content

Citation

, D. and Duewer, D. (2021), High resolution neutron radiography analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, Modern Aspects of Electrochemistry, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=902841 (Accessed April 25, 2024)
Created April 21, 2021