sintered Teflon which stops the electrolyte from leaking through the electrode, but still lets the oxygen through to react at the gas-catalyst-electrolyte interface. Two types of anodes (negative electrodes) were tested: • electrodes with a hydrophobic film as in the previous case • electrodes without any hydrophobic film but with an electrolyte reservoir of sintered carbon. Test bench As shown in the Figure 2, the main features of the test bench are the following: • the hydrogen loop includes a humidification system (thermostatted water bubbler) before the inlet of the cell; at the outlet of the cell a mirror hygrometer allows the humidity of the hydrogen to be measured as it leaves the cell (it should be remembered that the water is produced at the negative electrode and eliminated in the vapor phase by the hydrogen flow). • the oxygen loop contains a humidification system (as in the hydrogen loop) with the possibility of controlling the hygrometry before the inlet of the cell. The original feature of this loop is the possibility of collecting (and analyzing) the electrolyte leaking through the cathode by weeping effect. Results Gas and water management: Experimental results The test bench previously described allowed us to control exactly the amount of water removed from the cell and to compare it with the theoretical value given by Faraday's law Taking into account the experimental parameters of gas flow rates and pressures, and assuming that we have no water exchange at the cathode, the equation giving the rate of water removal from the cell can be written as follows:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==