PEMFC Two-dimensional FEM Model to Study the Effects of Gas Flow Channels Geometry on Reactant Species Transport

Abstract

A proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell has many distinctive features, like quick start-up, high power density, zero emissions and system robustness, which makes it an attractive alternative clean energy source. Comsol Multiphysics, a commercial solver based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) was used here for developing a two dimensional cross-the-channel (CTC) and through-the-membrane (TTM) model of a low temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel cell (LT-PEMFC), based on the agglomerate model for cathode catalyst layer. The transport of all three types of reacting species (electrons, ions and chemical species) participating in the electrochemical reaction within the catalyst layer was considered in this model. The effect of bipolar plate geometry (channel land/rib ratio) has been investigated here since the pathway for electron transport is affected by the land area in contact with the Gas Diffusion Layer(GDL) as a macro-scale fuel cell feature.