Induction of In-plane Current at Start-and-Stop Operations on a PEFC

In-plane induction currents in electrodes and bipolar plates by reactant fed into a PEFC were evaluated using a 20-segmented cell. When hydrogen was fed into anode in the condition of anode (negative electrode) and cathode (positive electrode) exposed air, in-plane currents were detected in both electrodes in spite of the open-circuit condition. In-plane currents of anode and cathode in each segment had each other opposite direction and nearly equal quantity. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide and oxygen were also detected in the cathode exhaust.