Local performance response behavior during liquid water transport of a hydrogen-oxygen proton exchange membrane fuel cell: An experimental investigation

The effective transportation of liquid water is one of the challenges faced by hydrogen-oxygen proton exchange membrane fuel cells during operation, which has a significant impact on their performance and working life. In this work, a single cell with parallel flow field is designed for cathode liquid water image acquisition and highresolution current density mapping based on transparent fuel cell technology combined with printed circuit board segmented fuel cell technology. By varying the loading current, the influence of the liquid water transport process on the local performance was investigated. The results show that the upper limit of the cathode liquid water coverage area in the parallel flow field is about 200 mm2, accounting for 16% of the channel area. In addition, combined with the current density distribution, it is found that the local performance degradation occurs when the liquid water coverage rate reaches 20%, and this phenomenon is more likely to occur downstream of the flow field. The results provide effective guidance for the formulation of reasonable water management strategies.