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Quantitative analysis of trapezoid baffle block sloping angles on oxygen transport and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

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  • Yin, Yan
  • Wu, Shiyu
  • Qin, Yanzhou
  • Otoo, Obed Nenyi
  • Zhang, Junfeng

Abstract

Increasing the power density of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell without extra cost through flow channel design is an effective method to achieve cost and compact requirement of its commercialization for vehicles. PEM fuel cell power or current density is mainly limited by oxygen transport to the reacting sites in the cathode porous electrode. Inserting baffle blocks in the flow channel of PEM fuel cell can effectively enhance the oxygen transport and fuel cell performance. However, existing researches on the structure design of baffle blocks are still insufficient, especially for the design of baffle block sloping angles. In this study, the influence of the trapezoid baffle block sloping angles on the convective and diffusive oxygen transport and performance of PEM fuel cell is quantitatively investigated using a three-dimensional numerical model. The results indicate that larger leading angle of the baffle block leads to a higher gas velocity component in the vertical direction, hence enhances the convective oxygen transport effect; but it reduces the convection area, as well as the oxygen delivery efficiency in the channel. Larger trailing angle of the baffle block induces the back-flow phenomenon at the rear of the baffle block, which causes the loss of gas pressure and worse oxygen transport. Both the baffle block sloping angles are carefully designed, and it demonstrates that the trapezoid baffle blocks with both the leading and trailing sloping angles of 45° show the best oxygen transport and fuel cell performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Yin, Yan & Wu, Shiyu & Qin, Yanzhou & Otoo, Obed Nenyi & Zhang, Junfeng, 2020. "Quantitative analysis of trapezoid baffle block sloping angles on oxygen transport and performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:271:y:2020:i:c:s0306261920307698
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115257
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    3. Yulin Wang & Xiangling Liao & Guokun Liu & Haokai Xu & Chao Guan & Huixuan Wang & Hua Li & Wei He & Yanzhou Qin, 2023. "Review of Flow Field Designs for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-54, May.
    4. Zhou, Yu & Chen, Ben & Meng, Kai & Zhou, Haoran & Chen, Wenshang & Zhang, Ning & Deng, Qihao & Yang, Guanghua & Tu, Zhengkai, 2023. "Optimal design of a cathode flow field for performance enhancement of PEM fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 343(C).
    5. Chen, Hao & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & MA, Chong Fang, 2022. "Cell performance and flow losses of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with orientated-type flow channels," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 1338-1352.
    6. Yonghua Cai & Jingming Sun & Fan Wei & Ben Chen, 2022. "Effect of Baffle Dimensionless Size Factor on the Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
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    8. Wang, Yulin & Wang, Xiaoai & Fan, Yuanzhi & He, Wei & Guan, Jinglei & Wang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Numerical Investigation of Tapered Flow Field Configurations for Enhanced Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PA).
    9. Zhou, Yu & Chen, Ben, 2023. "Investigation of optimization and evaluation criteria for flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    10. Gong, Fan & Yang, Xiaolong & Zhang, Xun & Mao, Zongqiang & Gao, Weitao & Wang, Cheng, 2023. "The study of Tesla valve flow field on the net power of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    11. Jiao, Daokuan & Jiao, Kui & Zhong, Shenghui & Du, Qing, 2022. "Investigations on heat and mass transfer in gas diffusion layers of PEMFC with a gas–liquid-solid coupled model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    12. Feng, Pengfei & Tan, Ligang & Cao, Yucheng & Chen, Ding, 2023. "Numerical investigations of two-phase flow coupled with species transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    13. Dafalla, Ahmed Mohmed & Wei, Lin & Liao, Zihao & Guo, Jian & Jiang, Fangming, 2023. "Influence of cathode channel blockages on the cold start performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A numerical study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    14. Li, Hong-Wei & Liu, Jun-Nan & Yang, Yue & Fan, Wenxuan & Lu, Guo-Long, 2022. "Research on mass transport characteristics and net power performance under different flow channel streamlined imitated water-drop block arrangements for proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).

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