Channel-to-Rib Width Ratio Optimization for the Electrical Performance Enhancement in PEMFC Based on Accurate Strain-Stress Simulation

Xiangyang Chen, Xianglong Luo (), Chao Wang, Yingzong Liang, Jianyong Chen, Zhi Yang, Jiacheng He and Ying Chen
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Xiangyang Chen: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Xianglong Luo: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Chao Wang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yingzong Liang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jianyong Chen: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Zhi Yang: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jiacheng He: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Ying Chen: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Functional Soft Condensed Matter, School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-28

Abstract: Although a large channel-to-rib width ratio (CRWR) of the bipolar plate (BP) leads to a large electrical performance of PEMFC, an excessive CRWR leads to excessive pressure and destroys the gas diffusion layer (GDL), thus reducing the electrical performance of PEMFC. Revealing the relationship between the CRWR and GDL is of urgent necessity for improving the electrical performance of PEMFC. In this study, a three-dimensional model of PEMFC incorporating the compressed neo-Hookean theory is developed to accurately depict the stress-strain relationship. Compared with the traditional model incorporating the linear-elastic theory, the current density deviation of the proposed model is decreased from 9.81% to 2.55%. The correlation among CRWR of BP, stress, strain, and elastic modulus of GDL is fitted. The average stress deviation of the correlation from the simulated data is 3.41%. Based on the correlation, when the compressive strength of GDL is 2.5 MPa, the peak permissible CRWR is achieved at 2.91, indicating the peak value of CRWR without damaging the GDL structure. A power density enhancement of 29.04% compared to the conventional case is achieved. The strategies of this study can be used to guide the design of the channel of bipolar plates and enhance the power density of PEMFC.

Keywords: power density; PEMFC; bipolar plate; channel-to-rib width ratio; gas diffusion layer; nonlinear-elastic theory (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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