Numerical investigation of influence of cross-sectional dimensions of flow channels on PEM fuel cell performance

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has acquired increasing importance because of operating at higher efficiency and producing environmentally friendly power low temperatures over the past decade. Flow channel as a vital part PEMFC plays critical role for augmenting performance PEMFC. In this paper, single phase, 3-D model is generated to examine impact cross-section geometry on performance. 15 different simulation cases were gained by altering flow width depth from 0.2 1.6 mm fixed 1 mm, respectively. base case, dimensions are 1.0 depth. The results revealed that decreasing enhanced current density thanks gas velocity in channels anode cathode expense increased pressure drop. having cross-sectional x 0.1 (channel depth) about 57% 45% 0.4 V compared case. Besides, oxygen consumption water production side also remarkably these cases. However, size 0.8 case which increases 2.5% comparison with can be best option taking into consideration drop channels.