Open AccessSingle serpentine flow fields design and sub-rib convection analysis for a PEM fuel cell
Author(s) -
Viorel Ionescu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of physics. conference series
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1742-6596
pISSN - 1742-6588
DOI - 10.1088/1742-6596/1297/1/012017
Subject(s) - proton exchange membrane fuel cell , convection , péclet number , materials science , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , electrolyte , permeability (electromagnetism) , composite material , chemistry , fuel cells , membrane , chemical engineering , electrode , engineering , physics , biochemistry
In a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), transport of reactant gases through a bypass convection mechanism established between two adjacent channels along the gas diffusion layer (GDL) under the serpentine type flow field of a bipolar plate can enhance the fuel cell performance by reducing the power losses. In this paper, three different serpentine type flow field models for bipolar plates of a PEM fuel cell unit have been designed, with different channel width/rib width ratios of 1, 1.05 and 1.2, and different pressure loses have been evaluated. An analytical model for bypass sub-rib convection, based on two adjacent flow channels and a serpentine in contact with a GDL layer was used here. This model established the influence of bypass convection in the form of Peclet number Pe for the flow field models, by modifying the GDL thickness t (mm) and active channel length L (mm). The optimal combination of thickness t , porosity ε and permeability k for a series of commercial GDL materials from the perspective of sub-rib convection was established for Sigracet TM GDL 35 BC, with highest Pe number modified along the channel.