Hh. Voss et al., ANODE WATER REMOVAL - A WATER MANAGEMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC-TECHNIQUE FORSOLID POLYMER FUEL-CELLS, Electrochimica acta, 40(3), 1995, pp. 321-328
A water management technique has been developed for solid polymer elec
trolyte fuel cells which demonstrates both performance and diagnostic
benefits. Through this technique a substantial proportion of the water
in the cathode can be removed via the anode fuel stream. This is acco
mplished by imparting a water concentration gradient through the polym
er membrane, thereby increasing the back diffusion rate of water. A re
duction in cathode overpotential is observed without noticeable increa
se in membrane resistance. The technique can be used to remove mass tr
ansport limitations at both high current densities and low oxidant sto
ichiometries.