Bipolar Plate Flow Channel Design, Optimization and Influence Level on Performance of PEMFC

Abstract

AbstractWith the intensification of environmental damage and climate change due to conventional energy and power systems, alternative clean and sustainable energy and power technologies need to be developed. There is an urgent requirement to commercialize the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) with its low operating temperature, high-efficiency and near-zero pollution. The paper has established a single-channel PEMFC hydrodynamic model that includes flow and mass transfer equations, electrochemical reaction model of the catalytic layer and water transfer model. The effects of cross-sectional shape, channel depth, and width have been simulated and analysed. The most appropriate size values are selected using the Score Accumulation Method. When the trapezoidal flow channel depth equals 0.5 mm and the flow channel and ridge widths are 0.9 mm, the fuel cell achieves the best operating performance. Besides, the rounding size optimization of the trapezoidal flow channel further improves the drainage and gas diffusion capacity by three times when the radius equals 0.1 mm and 0.2 mm. Additionally, this paper has identified the influence degree of the different flow channel structural dimensions on the fuel cell performance, which can be beneficial to future advancement and commercialization.KeywordsProton exchange membraneFuel cellBipolar plateFlow channel designSimulation