Performance Analysis of PEMFC with Single-Channel and Multi-Channels on the Impact of the Geometrical Model

Masli Irwan Rosli, Bee Huah Lim (), Edy Herianto Majlan, Teuku Husaini, Wan Ramli Wan Daud and Soh Fong Lim
Additional contact information
Masli Irwan Rosli: Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Bee Huah Lim: Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Edy Herianto Majlan: Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
Teuku Husaini: Department of Green Energy, Petronas Research Sdn. Bhd. (PRSB), Bandar Baru Bangi 43650, Selangor, Malaysia
Wan Ramli Wan Daud: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Soh Fong Lim: Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Sarawak, Malaysia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: A low-performance fuel cell significantly hinders the application and commercialization of fuel cell technology. Computational fluid dynamics modeling could predict and evaluate the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with less time consumption and cost-effectiveness. PEMFC performance is influenced by the distribution of reactants, water, heat, and current density. An uneven distribution of reactants leads to the localization of current density that produces heat and water, which are the by-products of the reaction to be concentrated at the location. The simplification of model geometry can affect performance prediction. Numerical investigations are commonly validated with experimental results to validate the method’s accuracy. Poor prediction of PEMFC results has not been discussed. Thus, this study aims to predict the effect of geometry modeling on fuel cell performance. Two contrasting 3D model dimensions, particularly single-channel and small-scale seven-channel models were employed. Both 3D models are correlated with a multi-channel model to assess the effect of modeling dimension on the PEMFC performance. Similar stoichiometry and channel dimensions were imposed on each model, where theoretically, the PEMFC performance should be identical. The simulation findings showed that the single-channel model produced a higher current density per cm 2 . From the contours of water and current density, the single-channel model does not show flow distribution. Thus, this leads to a higher current density generation than the small-scale model. The prediction of PEMFC performance is not thorough for the single-channel model. Therefore, the prediction of PEMFC performance is adaptable in a small-scale or comprehensive flow field.

Keywords: PEMFC; modelling geometry; channels; performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7960/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/21/7960/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:7960-:d:954355

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().