Numerical optimization of channel to land width ratio for PEM fuel cell

Flow field plays a vital role in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell where channel geometry being the primary factor. Most of the channel geometry analyses were limited to few number of case studies, whereas in this study total 73 case studies were analyzed for the optimization of channel and land width. A three dimensional isothermal single phase flow mathematical model is developed and further validated with experimental study to optimize the channel and land width through parametric sweep function for a staggering 73 number of case studies. The optimization analyses are carried out for a straight channel geometry considering a fixed operating voltage of 0.4 V and channel depth of 1.0 mm. Due to the large number of case studies, the analyzed performance parameters i.e. current density and pressure drop are easily understandable for the change in different channel and land width. The numerical results predicted that the pressure drop is more dependent on channel width compare to the land width and anode pressure drop is less significant than cathode pressure drop. However, both channel and land width have an equal importance on the cell current density. Considering channel pressure drop and current density, the optimization analyses showed that the channel to land width of 1.0 mm/1.0 mm would be best suitable for PEMFC channel geometry. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.