Wavy channels to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells
LI Zijun1,2, WANG Shubo2, LI Weiwei2, ZHU Tong1, XIE Xiaofeng2,3
1. School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China; 2. Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; 3. Shanxi Research Institute for Clean Energy, Tsinghua University, Taiyuan 030032, China
Abstract：The performance and durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are limited by factors related to fuel delivery and water management with the flow channel significantly affecting these factors. This study investigated flow in a three-dimensional wavy channel using a single straight channel model consistent with the experimental conditions. The model was used to analyze the performance of PEMFCs with straight channels and wavy channels and the oxygen, liquid water, velocity and current density distributions in the two channels. The results show that for high current densities, the three-dimensional wavy channel enhances the oxygen transfer from the narrow channel to the catalytic layer, improves the oxygen supply, effectively removes the liquid water in the channel, and increases the peak power density by 10.16%.
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2021, Vol. 61 
