Oxygen transport in proton exchange membrane fuel cells with metal foam flow fields

Metal foam flow fields have shown great potential in improving the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, while their effect on oxygen transport process remains inadequately understood. In this study, metal (under zero-humidity operating conditions) is simulated by using a three-dimensional multi-species lattice Boltzmann model. Comparison done between field and conventional channel-rib field, parametric studies are conducted porosity, pore density, compression ratio. Results show that enhances mass transfer to catalyst layer improves distribution homogeneity. Within range parameters considered, decrease porosity yields nonmonotonic variation rate layer, which increases at high inlet velocities (higher than 2 m/s) but decreases low (less m/s). The increase density ratio leads enhanced oxygen, becomes increasingly prominent velocity. results study could be insightful for implementation PEM cells.