Manifold Design in a PEM Fuel Cell Stack to Improve Flow Distribution Uniformity

Mazaher Rahimi-Esbo (), Ahmad Rezaei Sangtabi and Ebrahim Alizadeh
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Mazaher Rahimi-Esbo: Northern Research Center for Science & Technology, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran 1774-15875, Iran
Ahmad Rezaei Sangtabi: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177-948974, Iran
Ebrahim Alizadeh: Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Tehran 1774-15875, Iran

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 23, 1-18

Abstract: In this paper, a numerical study was performed to investigate the flow distribution in a 52-cell proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack. The non-uniformity factor and standard deviation parameters were used to determine the flow distribution uniformity. Flow channels of each bipolar plate were replaced with straight parallel channels filled with porous media to reduce computational costs. The effect of external and integrated humidifiers on the gas distribution among the channels was investigated. Using integrated humidifiers improved the non-uniformity factor and standard deviation by 35% and 19%, respectively. Two methods were employed to improve the flow distribution: gradual reduction of the manifold height, and installing a bump at the bottom wall of the inlet manifold. Reducing the height of the inlet manifold in the stack with integrated and external humidifiers decreased the non-uniformity factor by 62% and 44%, respectively. The installation of the bump on the manifold wall enhanced flow distribution in the stack with the external humidifier. The results show that by using an integrated humidifier in this method, the flow distribution became more non-uniform. The best flow distribution in the stack was obtained with an integrated humidifier and a 90% reduction in manifold height. In this case, the flow rate passing through each channel was more than 99% of the average mass flow rate passing through the entire channel.

Keywords: flow distribution; PEM fuel cell; humidifier; non-uniform factor; manifold (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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