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X-ray compton tomography
(2014)
The potentials of incoherent X-ray Scattering (Compton) tomography are investigated. Imaging materials of very different density or atomic number at once is a perpetual challenge for X-ray tomography or radiography, in general. In a basic laboratory set-up for simultaneous perpendicular Compton Scattering and direct beam attenuation tomographic scans are conducted by single channel photon counting. This results in asymmetric distortions of the projection profiles of the scattering CT-data set. ln a first approach corrections of Compton scattering data by taking advantage of rotational symmetry yield tomograms without major geometric artefacts.
A cylindrical sample composed of PE, PA, PVC, glass and wood demonstrates similar Compton contrast for all the substances, while the conventional absorption tomogram only reveals the two high order materials.
Compärison to neutron tomography reveals astonishing similarities except for the glass component (without hydrogen). Therefore, Compton CT bears the potential to replace neutron tomography, which requires much more efforts.
The potentials of incoherent X-ray scattering (Compton) computed tomography (CT) are investigated. The imaging of materials of very different atomic number or density at once is generally a perpetual challenge for X-ray tomography or radiography. In a basic laboratory set-up for simultaneous perpendicular Compton scattering and direct beam attenuation tomography are conducted by single channel photon counting line scans. This results in asymmetric distortions of the projection profiles of the scattering CT data set. In a first approach, corrections of Compton scattering data by taking advantage of rotational symmetry yield tomograms without major geometric artefacts. A cylindrical sample composed of PE, PA, PVC, glass and wood demonstrates similar Compton contrast for all the substances, while the conventional absorption tomogram only reveals the two high order materials. Comparison to neutron tomography
reveals astonishing similarities except for the glass component (without hydrogen). Therefore, Compton CT offers the potential to replace neutron tomography, which requires much more efforts.
Perforated gas diffusion layers (GDLs) of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) were investigated by means of in-situ synchrotron X-ray radiography during operation. We found a strong influence of perforations on the water distribution and transport in the investigated Toray TGP-H-090 GDL. The water occurs mainly around the perforations, while the holes themselves show varying water distributions. Some remain dry, while most of them fill up with liquid water after a certain period or might serve as drainage volume for effective water transport.
The water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is strongly influenced by the design of the gas diffusion layers (GDL). Limiting current measurements in small-scale cells operating at high stoichiometries are useful to determine the oxygen transport resistance. The oxygen transport resistance increases, once water condenses inside the GDL. In this study a new electrochemical method for voltage loss estimation of GDL induced oxygen transport losses are presented. This new method, referred to as “transient limiting current” (TLC), is compared with the literature method. TLC allows a direct estimation of oxygen transport resistance at an arbitrarily conditioned state. This study also presents a case study of liquid water visualization of a PEM fuel cell with varying GDLs types.
With the help of quasi in-situ synchrotron X-ray computed tomography and time resolved radiography measurements we investigate appearance and distribution of liquid water inside the GDLs under limiting current conditions.
Aufgrund des hohen Wirkungsgrades und der vielfältigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten können Brennstoffzellen einen wichtigen Beitrag zur zukünftigen Energieversorgung leisten. Für die Optimierung der Brennstoffzellentechnik ist es erforderlich, die während des Zellbetriebs ablaufenden Prozesse zu verstehen und exakt zu charakterisieren. Ein ausbalanciertes Wassermanagement ist die Grundlage für die optimale Leistungsfähigkeit einer wasserstoffbetriebenen Zelle. Das während des Betriebs entstehende Wasser muss die Membran ausreichend befeuchten, um deren Protonenleitfähigkeit aufrechtzuerhalten. Andererseits behindern zu große Wasseransammlungen in der Zelle die Gaszufuhr durch die porösen Materialien sowie in den Kanälen der Gasverteilerstrukturen. Alterungsphänomene einzelner Zellkomponenten können die Verteilung der Wasseransammlungen und somit das Wassermanagement empfindlich stören und so die Leistungsfähigkeit der Brennstoffzelle herabsetzen. Zur Analyse der Wasserverteilung werden zerstörungsfreie, bildgebende Methoden, wie die Ex-situ-Neutronentomografie und die In-situ-Synchrotronradiografie, eingesetzt. Diese Methoden können während des Brennstoffzellenbetriebs mit weiteren Messverfahren, beispielsweise der ortsaufgelösten Stromdichtemessung, kombiniert werden. Auf diese Weise werden einzelne Komponenten, wie zum Beispiel die Gasdiffusionsschichten, charakterisiert.
Auf Grund des hohen Wirkungsgrades und der vielfältigen Einsatzmöglichkeiten stellen Brennstoffzellen sowie Brennstoffzellenverbünde eine vielversprechende Energiequelle dar. Daher ist es wichtig, die Prozesse während des Betriebs einer Brennstoffzelle exakt charakterisieren zu können, um diese im nächsten Schritt zu optimieren.
So ist ein ausbalanciertes Wassermanagement in einer mit Wasserstoff betriebenen Zelle ausschlaggebend für ihre Leistungsfähigkeit. Für eine dauerhafte Leistungsfähigkeit muss das entstehende Wasser die Membran feucht halten, um so die Protonenleitfähigkeit aufrecht zu erhalten. Zu viel Wasser kann jedoch die Gaszufuhr durch die porösen Materialien in Richtung Membran verhindern.
Alterungsphänomene der einzelnen Komponenten können dieses sensible Wassermanagement stören und so die Leistungsfähigkeit einer Brennstoffzelle
herabsetzen. Zum tieferen Verständnis der Wasserverteilung werden zerstörungsfreie Methoden, wie zum Beispiel die ex situ Neutronentomografie oder die in situ Synchrotronradiografie eingesetzt. Letztere Methode kann während des Brennstoffzellenbetriebs in Kombination mit weiteren Messmethoden, wie der ortsaufgelösten Stromdichtemessung, eingesetzt werden. So können einzelne Brennstoffzellenkomponenten, wie die Gasdiffusionsschichten, charakterisiert werden.
We present a synchrotron X-ray tomographic study on the morphology of carbon fiber-based gas diffusion layer (GDL) material under compression. A dedicated compression device is used to provide well-defined compression conditions. A flat compression punch is employed to study the fiber geometry at different degrees of compression. Transport relevant geometrical parameters such as porosity, pore size and tortuosity distributions are calculated. The geometric properties notably change upon compression which has direct impact on transport conditions for gas and fluid flow. The availability of broad 3D paths, which are most important for the transport of liquid water from the catalyst layer through the GDL, is markedly reduced after compression. In a second experiment, we study the influence of the channel-land-pattern of the flow-field on shape and microstructure of the GDL. A flow-field compression punch is employed to reproduce the inhomogeneous compression conditions found during fuel cell assembly. While homogenously compressed underneath the land the GDL is much less and inhomogeneously compressed under the channel. The GDL material extends far into the channel volume where it can considerably influence gas and fluid flow. Loose fiber endings penetrate deeply into the channel and form obstacles for the discharge of liquid water droplets.
Neutron tomography was applied to study the 3D water distribution in full polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks. The water distribution after switch-off of the fuel cell was analyzed over a period of 36 h. We found a slowly increasing water amount in the fuel cell, but only few changes within a time period of 5 h, which is about the time necessary for neutron tomography. In this way, the requirement for successful tomography was obtained. It is demonstrated how the quasi in-situ tomography technique enables us to study the water content in individual flow field channels of three-fold stacks. Flow field as well as stack design issues are addressed by this visualization method showing weak points due to a non-uniform water distribution that can be identified by means of neutron imaging.
In this investigation, synchrotron X-ray imaging was used to investigate the water distribution inside newly developed gas diffusion media in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. In-situ radiography was used to reveal the relationship between the structure of the microporous layer (MPL) and the water flow in a newly developed MPL equipped with randomly arranged holes. A strong influence of these holes on the overall water transport was found. This contribution provides a brief overview to some of our recent activities on this research field.
Synchrotron X-ray absorption edge imaging was used to investigate the ruthenium distribution in both fresh and aged Pt/Ru-based membrane electrode assemblies (MEA) of direct methanol fuel cells. MEAs aged in different ways were analyzed: artificially aged by MeOH depletion and aged for 1700 h in an operating fuel cell stack. An element sensitive tomographic technique – differential X-ray absorption edge tomography – was applied allowing for a 3D-visualization of the ruthenium distribution within the MEA. We found a markedly changed Ru distribution after aging which is correlated to the GDL structure, the flow field geometry, and CO2 transport in the methanol solution.