Assessing the Limits of Water Management Using Asymmetric Micro-Porous Layer Configurations

Abstract

In high-power polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems, prevention of anode dry-out through enhanced back flux of water and restriction of evaporative losses is needed. One potential method to engineer the back flux of water to the anode is to utilize an asymmetric anode and cathode micro-porous layer configuration to independently tailor anode and cathode thermal and mass transport resistances. Extensive experimental tests have been performed to study the impact of asymmetric MPL configuration on the net water drag coefficient using sets of MPL with different thermal and mass transport resistances. It was observed that with asymmetric MPL alignment between the anode and cathode, the net water drag coefficient could be significantly altered, opening the door to enhanced high power performance at anode-dryout conditions.