Scaling factors for channel width variations in treelike flow field patterns for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells - An experimental study
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
To have a uniform distribution of reactants is an advantage to a fuel cell. We report results
for such a distributor with tree-like flow field plates (FFP). Numerical simulations have
shown that the width scaling parameters of tree-like patterns in FFPs used in polymer
electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) reduces the viscous dissipation in the channels. In
this study, experimental investigations were conducted on a 2-layer FF plate possessing a
tree-like FF pattern which was CNC milled on high-quality graphite. Three FF designs of
different width scaling parameters were employed. IeV curves, power curves and impedance spectra were generated at 70%, 60% and 50% relative humidity (25 cm2 active area),
and compared to those obtained from a conventional 1-channel serpentine FF. It was found
that the FF design, with a width scaling factor of 0.917 in the inlet and 0.925 in the outlet pattern, exhibited the best peak power out of the three designs (only 11% - 0.08 W/cm2
lower than reference serpentine FF). Results showed that a reduction of the viscous
dissipation in the flow pattern was not directly linked to a PEMFC performance increase.
Description
Keywords
Polymer electrolyte membrane, Fuel cells, Power, Tree-like patterns, Chemistry
Citation
Sauermoser, M. et al. (2021). Scaling factors for channel width variations in tree-like flow field patterns for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells - An experimental study. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 46(37), 19554–19568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.03.102