Three-Dimensional CFD Modeling of Serpentine Flow Field Configurations for PEM Fuel Cell Performance

A complete three-dimensional Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) model is proposed to study the influence of right-angle turn single serpentine (RAT1S), right-angle turn double serpentine (RAT2S), right-angle turn triple serpentine (RAT3S), and right-angle turn 3-2-1 serpentine (RAT321S) flow fields configuration on PEMFC performance with a commercial CFD code (ANSYS FLUENT). Simulations have been performed to envisage the pressure drop in the channel, the mass fraction of H-2 and O-2 along the anode and cathode channels, current flux density dispersion on the catalyst layer (CL), the membrane water content and proton conductivity as well as cell performance for proposed 4 flow field designs. A comparison of the simulation results of the four models was carried out. It has been found that the output of RAT321S flow field has improved compared to the RAT1S, RAT2S, and RAT3S flow field designs for the flow of the fixed-flow reactants, and RAT321S flow field model has been validated with experimental literature evidence. The results also show that the pressure drop losses are reduced as the number of passes increases.

Automated summary

A complete three-dimensional model was proposed to study the influence of different flow field configurations on PEMFC performance, with the RAT321S flow field showing improved output compared to other designs, and experimental evidence validating its performance.