Multi-flow channel proton exchange membrane fuel cell mass transfer and performance analysis

Abstract

This paper presents a study on the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) with a high humidity three-dimensional two-phase multi-channel model using COMSOL. The effects of gradient porosity in the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and gradient electrolyte volume fraction in the catalyst layer (CL) in the Y-direction on oxygen distribution, liquid water removal, current density surface area reaction rate (SCS), and current density magnitude of PEMFC are investigated. The results indicate that an appropriate gradient porosity in the GDL can improve the performance of PEMFC, especially in terms of oxygen distribution. Similarly, an appropriate gradient electrolyte volume fraction in the CL can enhance the current density uniformity. In addition, an improved multi-objective genetic optimization algorithm (RONSGA-II) is proposed in Chapter 4, along with an optimization method based on neural networks and RONSGA-II. As an example, the gradient porosity in the GDL in the Y-direction is optimized for current density and water removal. The optimized current density is increased by 1.22%, and water removal performance is improved by 16.67%.