Gas Channel Optimisation for PEM Fuel Cell using the Lattice Boltzmann Method

A scheme for two-phase flow with large density differences using the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was applied to investigate the optimum gas channel design for water drainage. Three different channel geometries were used: rectangular, trapezoidal, and triangular with constant gas flow rate and a droplet initially placed at the corner. The results show that the rectangular channel offers the best water removal characteristics under a moderate pressure drop. When using hydrophilic gas channels, a larger droplet is drawn up, which may induce better fuel cell performance. The cases of both channels with the same cross-section area, height and width are discussed.