- Russian
- French
Porous Materials, Inc > Industries > Fuel Cells
Fuel Cell Industry
Click here for our paper titled "Typical Application of PMI Instruments in the Fuel Cell Industry".
Fuel cells normally operate over a range of temperatures in widely different chemical environments under appreciable compressive stress. The components of fuel cells must function efficiently under these conditions. The electrodes are porous to permit flow of reactants and products. The reacting gases are distributed by porous gas distribution layers. When the reaction product is water, removal of water from the reaction zone is required to eliminate interference with the electrode reactions.
The important pore structure characteristics of various components of fuel cells include gas permeability, liquid permeability, effects of high temperature, effects of compressive stress, pore size, pore distribution, pore volume, in-plane pore structure, and pore structure characteristics of hydrophobic pores.
All the pore structure characteristics required in fuel cell components are measurable by PMI instruments. Permeameters can measure gas and liquid flow rates as functions of temperature. Temperatures up to 800°C can be investigated. Effects of compressive stress can be measured by compression porometer. Porometers can also measure through-plane and in-plane pore size and pore distribution. Mercury intrusion technique can measure pore volume. Water intrusion porosimeters can measure hydrophobic pore structure characteristics. Vapor permeation rates can be measures by vapor transmission analyzers. Very low gas flow rates can also be measured by diffusion permeameters.
If you have a special testing need that is not part of PMI's standard test list, the engineers at PMI will talk to you about your testing requirements and come up with a suitable solution.
The PMI Fuel Cell Porometer
PMI has developed a special porometer specifically for the Fuel Cell industry. The PMI Fuel Cell Porometer provides fully automated through-pore analysis including pore-throat diameter, pore size distribution, mean flow pore diameter, and liquid & gas permeability. The porometer's versatility allows the user to simulate operating conditions. The instrument has special features to measure the effects of compressive stress on a sample, test temperature, sample orientation, and layered structure on pore structure characteristics. The fully automated, user-friendly Fuel Cell Porometer is an asset in quality control and R&D environments.
For more information on this machine, click here to go to its product page.
