Performance Analysis of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell by Perfectly Insulated Segmented Cells

To investigate local phenomena of water flooding or drying up in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, a segmented cell consisting of perfectly insulated 5-cells was fabricated. The gas flow channels were designed to provide the reactant gases for a series of 5-cells in single direction without gas mixing or backflow under the operation. Through the I–V measurements of each cell varying oxygen utilization, dew point, gas pressure, and temperature gradients along gas flow, the local humidity conditions of each cell were analyzed. The local phenomena of water flooding or drying up and their influences on the overall cell performance can be understood well by introducing the H2O vapor transportation index.