Experiment of Voltage Response During Mode Switching in a Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell with Parallel Flow Field

A Unitized regenerative fuel cell complete energies transition between chemical and electricity in a unitized cell, and this characteristic makes mode switching operations inevitable in real applications. In this work, cell voltage dynamic response during mode switching in a URFC with parallel flow field is tested. Single flow direction in parallel flow field is not suitable for unitized regenerative fuel cells when operation modes are switched. Different flow directions for different modes makes switching operations more stable. In addition, comparing with the flux of purge gas, the time of purge increase is more efficient to push out the liquid water after electrolysis cell mode stopping for the startup fuel cell operation.