Journal
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
Volume 205, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.112386
Keywords
Geometry optimization; Bipolar plates; Proton exchange membrane fuel cell; Entropy generation; M-like channel
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [51676067, 51976055]
- Excellent Youth Foundation of Hunan Province Scientific Committee, China [2018JJ1011]
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The geometry of the flow channel in bipolar plates (BPs) significantly influences the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Considering this, the present study is aimed at optimizing the flow field in a straight channel by pursuing a minimum entropy generation. In accordance with the optimization strategy established herein, the flow field in a straight channel was optimized by solving the governing equations using COMSOL. Furthermore, a novel M-like channel was designed. Compared with conventional wave-like channels, the M-like channel exhibits lower entropy generation under equal pumping power, which implies higher heat and mass transfer performance. An analysis of the four factors contributing to entropy generation revealed that the irreversibility resulting from the heat transfer process is higher than that from its three counterparts. To further improve the heat and mass transfer performance of the M-like channel, the effects of geometric parameters on the entropy generation were investigated. The polarization curves of the wave-like channel and M-like channel in a single fuel cell were obtained based on the fuel cell and electrolysis module. The numerical results indicated that the maximum power density of the M-like channel is higher than that of the wave-like channel by 21.3%. These results provide effective guidance for the geometric design of a flow field in the BPs of a PEMFC.
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