Design of Flow Fields for High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cells Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Prantik Roy Chowdhury and Adam C. Gladen ()
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Prantik Roy Chowdhury: Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1319 Centennial Blvd., 111 Dolve Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, USA
Adam C. Gladen: Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State University, 1319 Centennial Blvd., 111 Dolve Hall, Fargo, ND 58102, USA

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-27

Abstract: This study proposes novel and modified conventional flow fields for a high-temperature PEM fuel cell, and predicts the fluid dynamic behavior with a 3D, computational fluid dynamics model. Five base flow field patterns (FFPs) are selected: a 4-channel serpentine, a hybrid design, a 2-channel spiral, a dual-triangle sandwich, and a parallel pin-type flow field. For each base FFP, sub-patterns are developed through modification of the channels and ribs. The 4-channel serpentine is taken as the state-of-the-art reference flow field. Simulations are carried out at two different mass flow rates. The result shows that the incorporation of a dead end in flow channels or the merging of channels into a single channel before connecting to the outlet enhances the average and maximum GDL mass flux, but it also increases the pressure drop. The parallel pin-type design-3 and dual-triangle sandwich design-1 exhibit a more even distribution but yield a lower average GDL mass flux than the 4-channel serpentine, which could be beneficial for reducing MEA degradation and thus used at low load conditions where a high mass flux is not needed. In contrast, the uniform hybrid design and 2-channel spiral design-2 provide a higher average and maximum mass flux with a more non-uniform distribution and greater pressure drop. The high average GDL mass flux would be beneficial during high load conditions to ensure enough reactants reach the catalyst.

Keywords: fuel cell; high temperature; flow field pattern; computational fluid dynamic; gas distribution (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: 2024
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