A modified serpentine flow slab for in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs)

• Published in: Energy procedia Vol. 142; pp. 667 - 673
• Main Authors: Wang, Chin-Tsan, Ou, Yun-Ting, Wu, Bing-Xue, Thangavel, Sangeetha, Hong, Shu-Wen, Chung, Wen-Tong, Yan, Wei-Mon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2017
• Subjects: convergent-type; numerical simulation; polarization; power performance; proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); serpentine flow slab; convergent-type; serpentine flow slab; polarization; power performance; proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs); numerical simulation
• ISSN: 1876-6102; 1876-6102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.12.110

Nowadays the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have gained more importance due to their eco-friendly features. They have been studied extensively due to their positive approach towards the environment, through electrochemical process of power generation. But they still face the issues of non-uniformity of fuel flow, especially in the common type of serpentine flow slab during high current density production. This leads to incomplete reaction of the fuel in the catalyst layer of MFC and will bring about a decrease in its performance. In this study, a modified design of convergent-type serpentine flow slab was designed for a better performance of PEMFCs, based on a series of optimization studies. Results showed that the power performance of PEMFCs in case of convergent-type serpentine flow slab was better than that of serpentine flow slab with a constant duct channel, mainly because improper fuel mixing was prohibited. This convergent-type of serpentine flow slab can effectively postpone the appearance of concentration polarization in PEMFCs. The findings of this study will definitely be useful for the improvement of MFCs performance and their applications in the future.