Multi-Objective Optimization of Blockage Design Parameters Affecting the Performance of PEMFC by OEM-AHP-EWM Analysis

Hongbo Ji, Quan Yuan, Xiaoyong Zhu, Nenad Janković and Xiaoping Chen ()
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Hongbo Ji: Vehicle Energy and Safety Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315336, China
Quan Yuan: Vehicle Energy and Safety Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315336, China
Xiaoyong Zhu: CATARC Automotive Test Center (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., Ningbo 315336, China
Nenad Janković: Department of Science, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Jovana Cvijića bb, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
Xiaoping Chen: Vehicle Energy and Safety Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University of Technology, Ningbo 315336, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: Adding blockages to the gas flow channels in the bipolar plates has a significant effect on the performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The design parameters of the gas flow channels with blockages mainly include the blockage shape ( S ), blockage number ( N ), blockage height ( H ), and channel–rib width ratio ( CRWR ) value. This paper systematically examines the combined effects of S , N , H , and CRWR value on current density ( I ), pressure drop (Δ P ), net output power ( W net ), and non-uniformity of oxygen distribution ( NU ) of PEMFC through the application of the orthogonal experimental method (OEM). To provide a comprehensive optimization strategy, a novel multi-criteria decision framework is introduced, which integrates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy weight method (EWM) to balance different evaluation objectives. Results from the AHP-EWM analysis reveal that the weight values of I , Δ P , W net , and NU are 0.415, 0.08, 0.325, and 0.18, respectively. The CRWR value exhibits the greatest effect on the comprehensive performance of PEMFC, followed by H , N , and S . The optimal design parameter combination identified in this paper is a triangular blockage with nine blockages, a height of 0.8 mm, and a CRWR value of 0.25, corresponding to the highest comprehensive score of 31.8306 among the 25 groups of orthogonal experiments. This paper provides a new optimization perspective and certain guidance for the performance optimization direction of PEMFC.

Keywords: multi-objective optimization; PEMFC; orthogonal experimental method (OEM); analytic hierarchy process (AHP); entropy weight method (EWM) (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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