Spatial distribution of the CO transient response of a PEFC

Abstract

We report on the investigation of the current distribution of a PEFC under the influence of CO impurities in the hydrogen feed stream by application of the segmented cell system. Stepping the CO partial pressure of the anode feed stream from 0 to 100 ppm CO the current response of the cell was recorded for different stoichiometric flows. A poisoning time delay occurs along the flow path due to the anode flow rate. Also anode and cathode processes, e.g. CO turnover and oxygen mass transport limitation contribute to the time response of the cell.