A fiber optic coupled diode laser sensor has been constructed for in situ measurements of water vapor partial pressure in active proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems. The bipolar plate of a prototypical PEM fuel cell was modified to allow for transmission of a near infrared laser beam through the flow channels on either the fuel or oxidizer side of its membrane-electrode assembly. The laser wavelength was scanned over several water rotational and vibrational transitions and the light absorption was detected by measuring the transmitted laser power through the device. The intensity and line shape of the measured transition was used to extract path-averaged values for the water vapor partial pressure. Measurements were initially taken in a non-operating cell with known temperature and humidity input gas streams to calibrate and test the optical device. A technique for rapid determination of the water partial pressure was developed. The optical technique is applicable over a significant temperature and humidity operating range of a PEM fuel cell. The measurement technique was applied to an operating PEM fuel cell system to examine the effects of incoming gas humidity and load on the water vapor partial pressure variation in one of the flow channels.
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e-mail: cetegen@engr.uconn.edu
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February 2006
This article was originally published in
Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology
Research Papers
In Situ Optical Diagnostics for Measurements of Water Vapor Partial Pressure in a PEM Fuel Cell
Saptarshi Basu,
Saptarshi Basu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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Hang Xu,
Hang Xu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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Michael W. Renfro,
Michael W. Renfro
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
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Baki M. Cetegen
Baki M. Cetegen
Fellow, ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
e-mail: cetegen@engr.uconn.edu
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Search for other works by this author on:
Saptarshi Basu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Hang Xu
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Michael W. Renfro
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139
Baki M. Cetegen
Fellow, ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering, 191 Auditorium Rd.,
University of Connecticut
, Storrs, CT 06269-3139e-mail: cetegen@engr.uconn.edu
J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. Feb 2006, 3(1): 1-7 (7 pages)
Published Online: July 21, 2005
Article history
Received:
October 29, 2004
Revised:
July 21, 2005
Citation
Basu, S., Xu, H., Renfro, M. W., and Cetegen, B. M. (July 21, 2005). "In Situ Optical Diagnostics for Measurements of Water Vapor Partial Pressure in a PEM Fuel Cell." ASME. J. Fuel Cell Sci. Technol. February 2006; 3(1): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2133799
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