Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B (대한기계학회논문집B)

The Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers (대한기계학회)
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Experimental Study of Freeze and Thaw Effect on Gas Diffusion Layer Using XRay Tomography

X-선 단층 촬영을 이용한 동결과 융해가 기체확산층에 미치는 영향에 대한 실험적 연구

  • Je, Jun-Ho (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Jong-Rok (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Doh, Sung-Woo (Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Moo-Hwan (Division of Advanced of Nuclear Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology)
  • 제준호 (포항공과대학교 기계공학과) ;
  • 김종록 (포항공과대학교 기계공학과) ;
  • 도승우 (포항공과대학교 기계공학과) ;
  • 김무환 (포항공과대학교 첨단원자력공학부)
  • Received : 2010.12.15
  • Accepted : 2011.02.11
  • Published : 2011.05.01
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Abstract

We used X-ray tomography to carry out an experimental study to visualize the effect of freeze and thaw cycles on the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). A PEMFC has freeze and thaw cycles if the fuel cell is operating at a below-freezing ambient temperature. The cycle permanently deforms the fuel-cell capillary structures and reduces the ability of the cell to generate electric power and also reduces its service life. The GDL is the thickest capillary layer in the fuel cell, so it experiences the most deformation. The X-ray tomography facility at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory was used to observe the structural changes in GDLs induced by a freeze and thaw cycle. We discuss the effects of these structural changes on the power production and service life of PEMFCs.

본 논문은 동결과 융해가 고분자 전해질 연료전지 내의 기체확산층에 미치는 영향에 대해 X-선 단층 촬영법을 이용하여 수행한 실험적 연구이다. 고분자 전해질 연료전지는 외부 온도가 0 도 이하가 되면 내부의 물이 동결되며, 외부 온도가 0 도 이상으로 상승하면 다시 녹는 과정을 겪게 된다. 이 과정은 연료전지의 내부 구조에 변형을 야기하고 이로 인해 연료전지의 전력과 수명의 감소를 야기하게 된다. 기체확산층은 연료전지 내부에서 가장 두꺼운 다공성층이며, 이로 인해 가장 많은 변형이 발생된다. 본 연구에서는 포항 방사광 가속기의 X-선 단층 촬영법을 이용하여 물의 동결과 융해 과정이 기체확산층의 내부 구조에 미치는 변화를 관찰하였다. 이 기체확산층의 구조 변화가 고분자 전해질 연료전지의 전력 생산과 수명에 미치는 영향에 관해 논의하였다.

Keywords

References

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