TY - JOUR
T1 - Optimization of blocked flow field performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell with auxiliary channels
AU - Zuo, Qingsong
AU - Li, Qiming
AU - Chen, Wei
AU - Peng, Ruitao
AU - Zhu, Xinning
AU - Xie, Yong
AU - Tang, Yuanyou
AU - Shen, Zhuang
AU - Yang, Xiaomei
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
PY - 2022/12/5
Y1 - 2022/12/5
N2 - The flow field optimization design is one of the important methods to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, a new structure with staggered blocks on the parallel flow channels of PEMFC and auxiliary flow channels under the ribs is proposed. Through numerical calculation method, the effect of blocks auxiliary flow field (BAFF) on pressure drop, reactant distribution and liquid water removal in the fuel cells are investigated. The results show that when the operating voltage is 0.5 V, the current density of BAFF is 21.74% higher than that of the straight parallel flow field (SPFF), and the power density reaches 0.65 W cm−2. BAFF improves performance by equalizing the pressure drop across sub-channels, promoting the uniform distribution of reactant, and enhancing transport across the ribs. In addition, through parameter analysis, it is found that BAFF can discharge liquid water in time at the conditions of high humidification, high current density and low temperature, which ensures the output performance of the fuel cell and improves the durability of the fuel cell. This paper provides new ideas for the improvement of PEMFC flow field design, which is beneficial to the development of PEMFC with high current density.
AB - The flow field optimization design is one of the important methods to improve the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this study, a new structure with staggered blocks on the parallel flow channels of PEMFC and auxiliary flow channels under the ribs is proposed. Through numerical calculation method, the effect of blocks auxiliary flow field (BAFF) on pressure drop, reactant distribution and liquid water removal in the fuel cells are investigated. The results show that when the operating voltage is 0.5 V, the current density of BAFF is 21.74% higher than that of the straight parallel flow field (SPFF), and the power density reaches 0.65 W cm−2. BAFF improves performance by equalizing the pressure drop across sub-channels, promoting the uniform distribution of reactant, and enhancing transport across the ribs. In addition, through parameter analysis, it is found that BAFF can discharge liquid water in time at the conditions of high humidification, high current density and low temperature, which ensures the output performance of the fuel cell and improves the durability of the fuel cell. This paper provides new ideas for the improvement of PEMFC flow field design, which is beneficial to the development of PEMFC with high current density.
KW - Auxiliary flow channels
KW - Current density
KW - Output performance
KW - Proton exchange membrane fuel cell
KW - Staggered blocks
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85139732786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.143
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.09.143
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85139732786
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 47
SP - 39943
EP - 39960
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
IS - 94
ER -
