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Influence of Structural Parameters of Tesla Valve Flow Field on Performance of Fuel Cells

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  • Hui Guo

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China
    School of Automotive Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Shaopeng Tian

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China
    School of Automotive Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Long Wang

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China)

  • Congda Xiao

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China
    School of Automotive Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Yuxin Pan

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China)

  • Wenlong Xie

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China)

  • Shujin Yang

    (National Energy Key Laboratory for New Hydrogen-Ammonia Energy Technologies, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory, Foshan 528200, China)

Abstract

The optimization of flow channel structures significantly impacts the performance enhancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). In this paper, the influences of the loop radius, inclination angle, and presence of the island in the Tesla valve flow field on the performance of a fuel cell were investigated numerically. The results indicated that increasing the inclination angle and curvature radius of the Tesla valve increased the voltage by 16.3% and 31.1%, respectively, compared to the parallel flow field at 0.8 A/cm 2 . Elevating the inclination angle amplified the resistance effect exerted by tributaries on the main stream, consequently fostering channel-to-membrane mass transfer. Increasing the curvature radius contributed to a heightened total oxygen concentration, but also led to water accumulation problems. The removal of islands increased the reactant contact area, but also created more dead zones, resulting in an observed improvement compared to the parallel flow field, but only marginal improvements over the basic Tesla flow field.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui Guo & Shaopeng Tian & Long Wang & Congda Xiao & Yuxin Pan & Wenlong Xie & Shujin Yang, 2024. "Influence of Structural Parameters of Tesla Valve Flow Field on Performance of Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:17:p:4442-:d:1471378
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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).
    2. 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).
    3. Singdeo, Debanand & Dey, Tapobrata & Gaikwad, Shrihari & Andreasen, Søren Juhl & Ghosh, Prakash C., 2017. "A new modified-serpentine flow field for application in high temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C), pages 13-22.
    4. Wu, Horng-Wen & Shih, Gin-Jang & Chen, Yi-Bin, 2018. "Effect of operational parameters on transport and performance of a PEM fuel cell with the best protrusive gas diffusion layer arrangement," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 47-58.
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