ECS Transactions · 2006 · 11 citations · 0 references
EngineeringChemical EngineeringMechanical EngineeringElectrochemical EngineeringHeat TransferTransport PhenomenaFuel Cell MembranesFuel CellsMembrane EngineeringMembrane TransportPolymeric MembranesWater TransportMembrane Electrode AssembliesMembrane Water Transport KineticsMembrane-controlled SystemsOsmotic TransportOsmotic Water FluxPolymer Electrolyte MembranesPolymer Electrolyte TransportWater Transport Across Membranes
Water transport induced by heat flow across polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) membranes has been studied under well-controlled thermal conditions. The investigation showed that water can be transferred across a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) that is subjected to a through-plane temperature differential. Thermo-osmotic water transport is a membrane-controlled phenomenon. The thermally driven water flux was found to be relatively large even for small temperature differences (~1oC). A physical model of thermo-osmosis is proposed. Comparison between the proposed model results and the experimental data shows good agreement.