Fan the flame with water: Operation of PEM fuel cells with dry feeds

Jay Benziger

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Water management is a major technological problem with Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells. Employing fuel cell reactors that elucidate the basic physics of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell reactors we have been able to demonstrate that the water produced at the cathode to auto-humidify the fuel cell and operate with dry feeds to 120°C. PEM fuel cells are shown to be conceptual identical to flames! Current ignition and front propagation occur from a balance of water production and water removal. We have also exploited gravity to facilitate liquid water removal in the channel-less self-draining PEM fuel cell, which operates with standard Nafion 115 membranes and dry feeds to >120°C and high current densities. We have constructed and operated fuel cells with dry feeds that control power output to fixed load impedance with 100% fuel utilization requiring no temperature control.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAmerican Chemical Society - 238th National Meeting and Exposition, ACS 2009, Abstracts of Scientific Papers
StatePublished - 2009
Event238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2009 - Washington, DC, United States
Duration: Aug 16 2009Aug 20 2009

Publication series

NameACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
ISSN (Print)0065-7727

Other

Other238th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, ACS 2009
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington, DC
Period8/16/098/20/09

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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