The Impact of Flow Rate Variations on the Power Performance and Efficiency of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: A Focus on Anode Flooding Caused by Crossover Effect and Concentration Loss

Byung-Yeon Seo and Hyun Kyu Suh ()
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Byung-Yeon Seo: Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, Kongju National University, 1223-24 Cheonan-daero, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si 31080, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea
Hyun Kyu Suh: Division of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Kongju National University, 1223-24 Cheonan-daero, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si 31080, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-27

Abstract: This study investigates the effects of anode and cathode inlet flow rates (ṁ) on the power performance of bipolar plates in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The primary objective is to derive optimal flow rate conditions by comparatively analyzing concentration loss in the I−V curve and crossover phenomena at the anode, thereby establishing flow rates that prevent reactant depletion and water flooding. A single-cell computational model was constructed by assembling a commercial bipolar plate with a gas diffusion layer (GDL), catalyst layer (CL), and proton exchange membrane (PEM). The model simulates current density generated by electrochemical oxidation-reduction reactions. Hydrogen and oxygen were supplied at a 1:3 ratio under five proportional flow rate conditions: hydrogen ( m ˙ H 2 = 0.76–3.77 LPM) and oxygen ( m ˙ O 2 = 2.39–11.94 LPM). The Butler–Volmer equation was employed to model voltage drop due to overpotential, while numerical simulations incorporated contact resistivity, surface permeability, and porous media properties. Simulation results demonstrated a 24.40% increase in current density when raising m ˙ H 2 from 2.26 to 3.02 LPM and m ˙ O 2 from 7.17 to 9.56 LPM. Further increases to m ˙ H 2 = 3.77 LPM and m ˙ O 2 = 11.94 LPM yielded a 10.20% improvement, indicating that performance enhancements diminish beyond a critical threshold. Conversely, lower flow rates ( m ˙ H 2 = 0.76 and 1.5 LPM, m ˙ O 2 = 2.39 and 4.67 LPM) induced hydrogen-depleted regions, triggering crossover phenomena that exacerbated anode contamination and localized flooding.

Keywords: anode flooding; back-diffusion; concentration loss; crossover; electro-osmotic drag; flow rate; high-efficiency; I−V curve; proton exchange membrane fuel cell; PEMFC (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: 2025
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