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Improved energy performance of a PEM fuel cell by introducing discontinuous S-shaped and crescent ribs into flowing channels

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  • Dong, Pengcheng
  • Xie, Gongnan
  • Ni, Meng

Abstract

Better mass transfer, more uniform temperature distribution, small pressure drop, and improved electrochemical performance can be achieved by designing better flow field in PEM fuel cells. In this paper, based on the concept of a sinusoidal rib, two kinds of discontinuous ribs: S-shaped rib and crescent rib, are proposed and introduced into the flow channels of a PEM fuel cell. Results show that the proposed ribs improve the flow field, and the local convection effect becomes stronger due to the velocity field changes. Moreover, a better distribution of O2 concentration is obtained from the better flow pattern, resulting in an improvement of the electrochemical rate and an increase of the temperature. The pressure drop is effectively reduced, and the electrochemical efficiency is improved by up to 23.61% in the condition of high current density, compared to those of the baseline sinusoidal ribbed flow field.

Suggested Citation

  • Dong, Pengcheng & Xie, Gongnan & Ni, Meng, 2021. "Improved energy performance of a PEM fuel cell by introducing discontinuous S-shaped and crescent ribs into flowing channels," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:222:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221001699
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.119920
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    5. Atyabi, Seyed Ali & Afshari, Ebrahim & Zohravi, Elnaz & Udemu, Chinonyelum M., 2021. "Three-dimensional simulation of different flow fields of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using a multi-phase coupled model with cooling channel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
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    14. Rahmani, Ebrahim & Moradi, Tofigh & Ghandehariun, Samane & Naterer, Greg F. & Ranjbar, Amirhossein, 2023. "Enhanced mass transfer and water discharge in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with a raccoon channel flow field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    15. 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).
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    17. Sarjuni, C.A. & Lim, B.H. & Majlan, E.H. & Rosli, M.I., 2024. "A review: Fluid dynamic and mass transport behaviour in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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