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Numerical simulation and visualization study of a new tapered-slope serpentine flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

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  • Huang, Haozhong
  • Liu, Mingxin
  • Li, Xuan
  • Guo, Xiaoyu
  • Wang, Tongying
  • Li, Songwei
  • Lei, Han

Abstract

The performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is affected by the flow field structure. Improving the flow field is a low-cost method for improving the power of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. This study proposed a new tapered-slope serpentine flow field and studied its performance through visualization experiments and numerical simulations. The results show that compared with conventional serpentine flow field, the tapered-slope serpentine flow field had a uniform distribution of hydrogen and oxygen concentration in the downstream, the pressure drop was reduced by 58.4%, and the maximum power density was increased by 3.75%. The visualization experiments results show that the guiding structure and slope design of U-shaped corner of the tapered-slope serpentine flow field maintained the shape of droplets, limited the splash of droplets when passing a U-shaped corner, and avoided the breakage caused by droplets colliding with the channel wall, the drainage process time is 62.3% less than conventional serpentine flow field. The experimental results of different reaction inlet flow rates found that tapered-slope serpentine flow field has good drainage performance and improves mass transfer. Increasing the flow rates can make the performance of conventional serpentine flow field close to the tapered-slope serpentine flow field.

Suggested Citation

  • 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).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:246:y:2022:i:c:s0360544222003097
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.123406
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Zhang, Yong & He, Shirong & Jiang, Xiaohui & Wang, Zhuo & Wang, Yonggang & Gu, Meng & Yang, Xi & Zhang, Shuanyang & Cao, Jing & Fang, Haoyan & Li, Qiming, 2024. "Performance and configuration optimization of proton exchange membrane fuel cell considering dual symmetric Tesla valve flow field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    4. Liao, Shuxin & Qiu, Diankai & Yi, Peiyun & Peng, Linfa & Lai, Xinmin, 2022. "Modeling of a novel cathode flow field design with optimized sub-channels to improve drainage for proton exchange membrane fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    5. Fan, Ruijia & Chang, Guofeng & Xu, Yiming & Xu, Jiamin, 2023. "Multi-objective optimization of graded catalyst layer to improve performance and current density uniformity of a PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PB).
    6. 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).
    7. 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).
    8. Huang, Ying & Song, Jiangnan & Deng, Xinyue & Chen, Su & Zhang, Xiang & Ma, Zongpeng & Chen, Lunjun & Wu, Yanli, 2023. "Numerical investigation of baffle shape effects on performance and mass transfer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).

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