Using electrochemical impedance to determine airflow rates

This paper proposes the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to estimate the cathode flow rate in a fuel cell system. Through experimental testing of an eight-cell, hydrogen-fueled polymer electrolyte stack, it shows that the ac impedance measurements are highly sensitive to the airflow rates at varying current densities. The ac impedance magnitude at 0.1 Hz allows the distinction of airflow rates (stoichiometry of 1.5–3.0) at current densities as low as 0.1 A/cm2. Using experimental data and regression analysis, a simple algebraic equation that estimates the airflow rate using impedance measurements at a frequency of 0.1 Hz is developed. The derivation of this equation is based on the operating cell voltage equation that accounts for all the irreversibilities.