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Numerical Investigation of Tapered Flow Field Configurations for Enhanced Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Performance

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  • Wang, Yulin
  • Wang, Xiaoai
  • Fan, Yuanzhi
  • He, Wei
  • Guan, Jinglei
  • Wang, Xiaodong

Abstract

A tapered flow field configuration (FFC) is proposed to improve the oxygen transport, water removal and performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. By performing a three-dimensional multiphase fuel cell model, the influence of the tapered FFC on the internal physicochemical process and overall cell performance are numerically investigated in this study. The tapered FFC without and with consideration of the electric contact resistance (ECR) between bipolar plates and gas diffusion layers are comparatively evaluated. Compared with the conventional FFC, for the tapered FFC without considering the ECR, an increased ratio of the side length for the inlet to that for the outlet (LI/O) enhances oxygen transport, water removal and cell performance. However, for tapered FFCs considering the ECR, an increased ratio of LI/O initially increases and then weakens oxygen transport, water removal and cell performance. Nevertheless, regardless of the tapered FFC with or without considering the ECR, a decreased ratio of LI/O degrades the overall cell performance. In comparison with all tapered FFC designs, the optimal tapered FFC design with an LI/O of 1.2 exhibits a more uniform reactant and current density distributions, which reduces the coefficient of variation of the current density and oxygen molar concentration by approximately 21.4% and 8.5%, thereby improving overall cell performance.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:306:y:2022:i:pa:s0306261921013210
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.118021
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. 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.
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    4. Wang, Yulin & Xu, Haokai & Zhang, Zhe & Li, Hua & Wang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Lattice Boltzmann simulation of a gas diffusion layer with a gradient polytetrafluoroethylene distribution for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    5. Liu, Xun & Zhang, Chen-Feng & Zhou, Jian-Gang & Xiong, Xin & Wang, Yi-Ping, 2022. "Thermal performance of battery thermal management system using fins to enhance the combination of thermoelectric Cooler and phase change Material," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    6. Yu, Rui Jiao & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & Chen, Hao, 2022. "Multi-parameter optimization of stepwise distribution of parameters of gas diffusion layer and catalyst layer for PEMFC peak power density," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    7. James Chilver-Stainer & Anas F. A. Elbarghthi & Chuang Wen & Mi Tian, 2023. "Power Output Optimisation via Arranging Gas Flow Channels for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Huang, Haozhong & Liu, Mingxin & Li, Xuan & Guo, Xiaoyu & Wang, Tongying & Li, Songwei & Lei, Han, 2022. "Numerical simulation and visualization study of a new tapered-slope serpentine flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 246(C).
    9. Zizhe Dong & Yuwen Liu & Yanzhou Qin, 2022. "Coupled FEM and CFD Modeling of Structure Deformation and Performance of PEMFC Considering the Effects of Membrane Water Content," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    10. Yu, Yang & Chen, Sheng & Wu, Yuanhao, 2023. "Predicting gas diffusion layer flow information in proton exchange membrane fuel cells from cross-sectional data using deep learning methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    11. Wang, Yulin & Zhang, Penghui & Gao, Yuyao & He, Wei & Zhao, Yulong & Wang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Optimal design of cathode gas diffusion layer with arrayed grooves for performance enhancement of a PEM fuel cell," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 697-709.

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