An experimental study on PEMFC water management based on the synergistic interaction of flow field and MPL

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has been widely recognized as promising applications of hydrogen energy in automobiles and stationary power generation. Water management in PEMFC is crucial at high current densities, where mass transfer polarization and ohmic losses are the primary factors that limit performance. Both the flow field and the microporous layer (MPL) have a significant impact on water management efficiency. In this study, the researchers investigated the synergistic interaction between the flow field and MPL. Two types of flow fields were carefully examined: a single serpentine flow field and a triple serpentine flow field, along with two different MPL loadings. The water retention and mass transfer properties of various flow fields and MPLs were investigated. The maximum power density of the best combination is 9.86% higher than that of the worst combination, reaching 1.47 W/cm2. It was found that the water management properties of the flow fields and the MPL need to be coordinated to achieve effective water management. The essence of synergistic interaction is to facilitate the balance between ohmic resistance and mass transfer resistance by matching the flow field and the MPL. It is indicated that there is no universal optimal MPL loading, and the optimal MPL loading needs to be determined according to the flow field conditions. This work provides a fundamental overview of the engineering development of electrode assemblies.