In situ detection of anode flooding of a PEM fuel cell

This paper proposes an early detection scheme of anode flooding in a PEM fuel cell. Through experimental testing of an eight-cell hydrogen-fueled polymer electrolyte stack it is shown that anode flooding can be detected prior to a rapid voltage decline. The proposed detection scheme requires no additional costly instrumentation and uses the existing voltage scan cards. The proposed scheme requires that when the fuel cell is operating at low current densities, the current load is periodically spiked to a value of at least 0.5 A/cm(2). During the spike the differences between the median cell voltage and the individual cells' voltages are measured. If one or more cells significantly differ from the median anode flooding is suspected and corrective measures can be taken. Monitoring cell voltages at low current densities without spiking the load will not allow early detection of flooding. The proposed scheme is a simple, inexpensive method to lengthen the life of a fuel cell system. (C) 2009 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.