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Review of Flow Field Designs for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells

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  • Yulin Wang

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China
    State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
    Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo 315200, China)

  • Xiangling Liao

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Guokun Liu

    (Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK)

  • Haokai Xu

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Chao Guan

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Huixuan Wang

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Hua Li

    (Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology of Zhejiang Province, Ningbo 315200, China
    Ningbo Institute of Material Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315200, China)

  • Wei He

    (Tianjin Key Lab of Refrigeration Technology, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin 300134, China)

  • Yanzhou Qin

    (State Key Laboratory of Engines, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China)

Abstract

The performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) closely depends on internal reactant diffusion and liquid water removal. As one of the key components of PEMFCs, bipolar plates (BPs) provide paths for reactant diffusion and product transport. Therefore, to achieve high fuel cell performance, one key issue is designing BPs with a reasonable flow field. This paper provides a comprehensive review of various modifications of the conventional parallel flow field, interdigitated flow field, and serpentine flow field to improve fuel cells’ overall performance. The main focuses for modifications of conventional flow fields are flow field shape, length, aspect ratio, baffle, trap, auxiliary inlet, and channels, as well as channel numbers. These modifications can partly enhance reactant diffusion and product transport while maintaining an acceptable flow pressure drop. This review also covers the detailed structural description of the newly developed flow fields, including the 3D flow field, metal flow field, and bionic flow field. Moreover, the effects of these flow field designs on the internal physical quantity transport and distribution, as well as the fuel cells’ overall performance, are investigated. This review describes state-of-the-art flow field design, identifies the key research gaps, and provides references and guidance for the design of high-performance flow fields for PEMFCs in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:10:p:4207-:d:1151414
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Prithvi Raj Pedapati & Shankar Raman Dhanushkodi & Ramesh Kumar Chidambaram & Dawid Taler & Tomasz Sobota & Jan Taler, 2024. "Design and Manufacturing Challenges in PEMFC Flow Fields—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-34, July.
    2. Qiao, Jia Nan & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & Chen, Hao, 2024. "A nonlinear contraction channel design inspired by typical mathematical curves: Boosting net power and water discharge of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    3. Prantik Roy Chowdhury & Adam C. Gladen, 2024. "Design of Flow Fields for High-Temperature PEM Fuel Cells Using Computational Fluid Dynamics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-27, September.
    4. Rocha, C. & Knöri, T. & Ribeirinha, P. & Gazdzicki, P., 2024. "A review on flow field design for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: Challenges to increase the active area for MW applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).

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