In situ measurement of temperature distribution within a single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

A novel test scheme for in situ measurement of temperature within a single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is proposed, which possesses the following attractive features: measuring interference with the internal environment of the fuel cell is likely reduced to minimum; simultaneous measurements for local temperatures of both sides of the fuel cell are conducted with enough numbers of measurement locations; and the cell temperatures are controlled in relatively careful and stringent strategies. Thermal and electrical behaviors of the cell tested are investigated, including the local and averaged temperatures at the back sides of cathode and anode flow field plates (FFPs), the outlet currents, and their variations with the test time. It is found that both temperatures and outlet currents exhibit complex dynamic behaviors; and the rise of temperature and the non-uniformity of temperature distribution of the back sides of the two FFPs are not negligible.