A PEM fuel cell for combined measurement of current and temperature distribution, and flow field flooding

A fuel cell has been designed that combines three methods of spatially resolved measurements. The experimental setup allows to perform a simultaneous evaluation of current, temperature and water distribution in a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) under operation. The test cell has a segmented anode flow field for current distribution measurement. The back plate of the cathode flow field is made of an optical window, which is transparent for infrared (IR) as well as for visible wavelengths. This allows infrared thermography and optical surveillance of water droplets and flow field flooding.