Effect of cell size in metal foam inserted to the air channel of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell for high performance

In this study, metal foam insert was suggested as a novel flow path for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell to improve the performance of fuel cell. For the experimental works in this study, four types of metal foams which have different cell size were used, and performance and characteristics of fuel cell with each metal foam were investigated by several methods. As a result, we found that the maximum power of fuel cell was increased about 50.6% by using proper metal foam compared to the conventional fuel cell with serpentine flow filed. We could also suggest a new flow path made by two metal foams which have different cell sizes. The mixed metal foam was made by combining the metal foam with large contact surface area to the upstream location of flow field and the metal foam with large diffusion area to the downstream location. Eventually, we could get about 60.1% of maximum power increase with this mixed metal foam as a flow path. Finally, the results obtained in this study can suggest a new flow path of PEMFC for improved performance and give a new concept of dividing flow field to make fuel cell operate more effectively. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.