Wavy channels to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

LI Zijun; WANG Shubo; LI Weiwei; ZHU Tong; XIE Xiaofeng

doi:10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2021.22.029

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Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2021, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (10) : 1046-1054. DOI: 10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2021.22.029

FUEL CELLS AND LITHIUMION BATTERIES

Wavy channels to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

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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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proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) / three dimensional flow field / gas transport / water management

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LI Zijun, WANG Shubo, LI Weiwei, ZHU Tong, XIE Xiaofeng. Wavy channels to enhance the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology). 2021, 61(10): 1046-1054 https://doi.org/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2021.22.029

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