Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics modeling of proton exchange membrane electrolyzer with new flow field pattern

Abstract

The performance of a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cell directly depends on the arrangement of flow field in bipolar plates (BPs). The design of flow field in BPs should be in a way that a uniform distribution of flow is achieved; in this regard, a three-dimensional model of a new flow field arrangement with a cross section of 64 cm2 is proposed and the distribution of current density, temperature, and pressure drop is investigated. A numerical model is carried out at the steady-state, single-phase, and non-isothermal condition based on finite volume control method. The continuity, momentum, species, energy and electric charge balance equations together with electrochemical kinetics relations in different regions of PEM electrolyzer are solved in a single-domain model. The results of numerical model are compared against experimental data, and an acceptable agreement is observed at low and medium currents densities. The results reveal that the spiral flow field yields a uniform distribution of produced hydrogen and current density. Moreover, the proposed flow field design leads to a uniform distribution of temperature through the channel path. The availability of water and current density at vertical paths of the flow field are higher.