In situ investigation of water transport in an operating PEM fuel cell using neutron radiography: Part 2 – Transient water accumulation in an interdigitated cathode flow field

An interdigitated cathode flow field has been tested in situ with neutron radiography to measure the water transport through the porous gas diffusion layer in a PEM fuel cell. Constant current density to open circuit cycles were tested and the resulting liquid water accumulation and dissipation rates with in-plane water distributions are correlated to measured pressure differential between inlet and outlet gas streams. The effect of varying the reactant gas relative humidity on liquid water accumulation is also demonstrated. These results provide evidence that the reactant gas establishes a consistent in-plane transport path through the diffusion layer, leaving stagnant regions where liquid water accumulates. A simplified permeability model is presented and used to correlate the relative permeability to varying gas diffusion layer liquid water saturation levels.