Performance Comparison of PEM Fuel Cell with Enhanced Cross‑Flow Split Serpentine and Single Serpentine Flow Field Designs

摘要

The present study is aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of enhanced cross-flow split serpentine flow field (ECSSFF) over the single serpentine flow field (SSFF) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell of 55 cm~2 active area using threedimensional, multiphase, full-scale CFD simulations. For the present study, pure air and hydrogen are used as reactants on cathode and anode side, respectively. The effect of rib width-to-channel width ratio on the cell performance for the two flow field designs is studied. The power output of the three-channeled ECSSFF is studied and compared with the performance of SSFF at different operating temperatures and pressures. The performance displayed by ECSSFF design is on par with that of SSFF design with almost 30 times lesser pressure drop. ECSSFF has exhibited superior performance in terms of offering high currents and low pressure drops compared to SSFF.