Non-dimensional analysis of PEM fuel cell phenomena by means of AC impedance measurements

AC impedance or electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is becoming a fundamental technique used by researchers and scientists in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell analysis and development. In this work, in situ impedance measurements are presented for a series of operating conditions in a 50 cm2 fuel cell. The electrode charge transfer resistance was determined from the corresponding arcs of the Nyquist diagrams. The analyses were performed for H2/O2 and H2/air operation at different stoichiometric factors and reactant gases humidification. Characteristic time scales of charge transfer processes at the different operating conditions were estimated from the corresponding Bode plots. These values were used for a non-dimensional analysis of the different fuel cell electrochemical and transport processes, namely electrochemical reaction versus GDL reactant transport. Fuel cell adapted Damkhöler numbers are thus presented, where the results indicate that the GDL diffusion transport is the limiting process for the cases under analysis, especially when air is used as oxidant. Additional analysis of channel convective mass transport versus GDL diffusive mass transport is also presented.