Accurate measurement of water transport and water accumulation in an operating PEMFC is critical to optimize operating conditions and transport layer configurations. A water balance setup, based on in-line gas flowmeter, pressure, relative humidity and temperature sensors, was developed and demonstrated to track the real-time water transport and accumulation within operating PEMFCs. Current results indicate that changing operating conditions can have a dramatic effect on the water transport across the membrane, while the ratio of water transported to produced remains relatively constant with current density. The impact of the MPL was also studied.

See, for example, Wei’s article in Chemical Engineering Journal.