Advanced parametric model for analysis of the influence of channel cross section dimensions and clamping pressure on current density distribution in PEMFC

Nico Keller and Thomas von Unwerth

Applied Energy, 2022, vol. 307, issue C, No S0306261921014094

Abstract: The design of the flow field and the channel cross section of a bipolar plate as well as the intrusion effect of gas diffusion layers due to clamping pressure can significantly influence the performance of a fuel cell. The land and channel areas at a channel cross section can have different boundary conditions due to compression, intrusion of gas diffusion layers and transport phenomena. Todayapplication engineers are faced with the challenge of finding advantageous overall solutions from this plurality of multi-criteria parameters. In this thesis, a model approach is presented which combines a fully parametric analytical-empirical intrusion model with a 1D fuel cell model. This allows the calculation of current density distributions at the channel cross section, taking into account clamping pressure, channel parameters and operating conditions. Depending on the operating points considered, the results show that the maximum current densities occur in different areas of the channel cross section. In addition, with regard to the clamping pressure current density optima can be determined. Using this model approach, in an early development process application engineers will be able to compare hundreds of variants in a reasonable short time and thus determine advantageous fuel cell designs.

Keywords: PEM fuel cell; Current density distribution; Channel parameters; GDL intrusion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261921014094
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

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:eee:appene:v:307:y:2022:i:c:s0306261921014094

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118132

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().