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The Effect of Flow Field Design Parameters on the Performance of PEMFC: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sadiq T. Bunyan

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad P.O. Box 14022, Iraq)

  • Hayder A. Dhahad

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Technology, Baghdad P.O. Box 18310, Iraq)

  • Dhamyaa S. Khudhur

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad P.O. Box 14022, Iraq)

  • Talal Yusaf

    (School of Engineering and Technologies, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4701, Australia
    College of Engineering, Almaaqal University, Basra 61003, Iraq)

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is essentially utilized to generate energy with zero emission. There are many drawbacks in PEMFC, such as the mal-distribution of reactants, water management between the catalyst layer and the GDL, and the mass transport issue of reactants. Flow field design parameters can overcome these problems to improve cell performance. Where the flow field is an essential element of the fuel cell, and it is designed to provide the required amount of both hydrogen and oxygen with the lowest possible pressure drop on the anode and cathode sides, respectively. In this paper, the cell performance with different flow field design parameters, such as conventional flow field configuration, nature-inspired flow field configuration, and geometric parameters, as well as their modifications, is reviewed in detail. It has been demonstrated through the current review paper that the flow field design parameters can significantly affect the overall behavior of PEMFC, and each design parameter has advantages and disadvantages that make the flow fields suitable for specific applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadiq T. Bunyan & Hayder A. Dhahad & Dhamyaa S. Khudhur & Talal Yusaf, 2023. "The Effect of Flow Field Design Parameters on the Performance of PEMFC: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-62, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10389-:d:1184476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Zhi Liu & Tingting Sun & Fuqiang Bai, 2024. "Numerical Study on Effect of Flow Field Configuration on Air-Breathing Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Stacks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-13, May.
    3. 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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