A preliminary study of a six-cell stack with dead-end anode and open-slits cathode

A practical air-breathing stack consisting of six cells was fabricated as a stair configuration for the integrated series connection of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. All the six cathodes of the stack contacting the ambient air through the open slits presented highly efficient (uniform and sufficient) oxygen supply for each cell. Hydrogen was supplied in series and circulated inside the stack to enhance the hydrogen utility and to improve the sufficiency of hydrogen supply to each cell of the stack. Polarization curves of the stack were measured without water-heat management. Gradual change processes of both the cells’ temperature and voltage from the startup to equilibrium were recorded and analyzed. The cells produced the maximum power density of 350 mW/cm2 at 650 mA/cm2 averagely. The preliminary experimental results show the practicability of the design configuration due to both the high efficient oxygen supply to each cell and the hydrogen circulation inside the stack.