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Erscheinungsjahr
- 2012 (8) (entfernen)
Dokumenttyp
Schlagworte
- Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) (4)
- DIRECTT (3)
- Radiography (3)
- Electron tomography (2)
- Iterative reconstruction (2)
- Tomography (2)
- Water transport (2)
- Computed tomography (1)
- Focal smearing (1)
- Fuel cell (1)
- Fuel cell stack (1)
- Gas diffusion layers (1)
- Instrumentation for neutron sources (1)
- Limited View (1)
- Limited tomographic data (1)
- Limited view (1)
- Manifold stack (1)
- Missing wedge (1)
- Neutron detectors (cold, thermal, fast neutrons) (1)
- Neutron imaging (1)
- Neutron radiography (1)
- Neutron tomography (1)
- Neutrons (1)
- Opacity (1)
- Perforated gas diffusion layer (GDL) (1)
- Reconstruction algorithm (1)
- Renewable energy (1)
- Spatial statistics (1)
- Synchrotron (1)
- Synchrotron radiography (1)
- Synchrotron tomography (1)
- Water management (1)
- X-ray imaging (1)
We present transmission electron microscope (TEM) tomography investigations of ruthenium-based fuel cell catalyst materials as employed in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC). The digital three-dimensional representation of the samples not only enables detailed studies on number, size, and shape but also on the local orientation of the ruthenium particles to their support and their freely accessible surface area. The shape analysis shows the ruthenium particles deviate significantly from spherical symmetry which increases their surface to volume ratio. The morphological studies help to understand the structure formation mechanisms during the fabrication as well as the high effectiveness of these catalysts in the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode side of fuel cells.
In order to demonstrate the challenging tasks in current R&D applications in the field of renewable energy
sources experimental neutron and electron tomographic data sets of PEM fuel cell components are processed by
an advanced version of the DIRECTT algorithm. The neutron measurements of the water distribution suffer from
several intrinsic limitations such as massive position dependent focal smearing due to the large primary neutron
beam aperture. Electron (TEM) tomography allows characterisation of nanometre sized catalyst particles but is
hampered by the following restrictions: partial opacity, a limited sector of projections (missing wedge), very few
projections, samples exceeding the detector size (region of interest) and improper angular alignment. Beyond the
capabilities of other algorithms DIRECTT proves to overcome these essential reconstruction problems, in
comparison to FBP and SIRT. Nevertheless, careful data pre-processing is an inevitable requirement in order to
fully exploit the algorithm's potentials.
Incomplete tomographic data sets such as limited view (missing wedge) data represent a well-known challenge
for reconstruction algorithms, since they unavoidably lead to substantial image artefacts. Such data sets may
occur in industrial computed tomography of limited access (e.g. extended components, fixed objects), directional
opacity, limited sample life time or laminographic set-up. We present strategies to effectively suppress the
typical elongation artefacts (e.g. lemon-like deformed pores) by our iterative algorithm DIRECTT which offers
the opportunity to vary the versatile reconstruction parameters within each cycle. Those strategies are applied to
experimental data obtained from metallic foams as well as model simulations. Comparison is drawn to state-ofthe-
art techniques (filtered backprojection and algebraic techniques). Further reference is made to reconstructions
of complete data sets serving as gold standards. For quantitative assessment of the reconstruction
quality adapted techniques based on spatial statistics are introduced.
A new high-resolution detector setup for neutron imaging has been developed based on infinity-corrected optics with high light collection, combined with customized mounting hardware. The system can easily be installed, handled and fitted to any existing facility, avoiding the necessity of complex optical systems or further improved electronics (CCD). This is the first time optical magnification higher than 1:1 has been used with scintillator-based neutron detectors, as well as the first implementation of infinity corrected optics for neutron imaging, achieving the smallest yet reported effective pixel size of 3.375 µm. A novel transparent crystal scintillator (GGG crystal) has been implemented with neutrons for the first time to overcome limitations of traditional powder scintillators (Li6/ZnS, Gadox). The standardized procedure for resolution measurements with the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is summarized to facilitate comparison between instruments and facilities. Using this new detector setup, a resolution of 14.8 µm with a field of view of 6 mm × 6 mm has been achieved while maintaining reasonable count times. These advances open a wide range of new possible research applications and allow the potential for additional future developments.
Synchrotron X-ray radiography and tomography investigations of a custom-made polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell optimised for visualisation purposes are presented. The 3D water distribution and transport pathways in the porous carbon fibre gas diffusion layers (GDLs) were investigated. The authors found that water is not only moving from the GDL into the channel, but can also take the opposite way, that is, from the channel into free pore space of the GDL. Such movement of water into the opposite direction has been subject of speculations but has so far not yet been reported and might bring new insights into the general water transport behaviour, which might give new aspects to the general description of water transport processes and influence modelling assumptions to describe the process taking place in the GDL.
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.
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.