Fuel channel friction and thermal irreversibilities in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

In this article, entropy production of gas friction and thermal irreversibilities in a rectangular channel of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied. A 2-D formulation of gas motion, heat transfer and entropy production is developed. Effects of varying channel height collapse onto a single curve with the same optimum, when entropy production is re-formulated in terms of an irreversibility distribution ratio. Predicted results are compared successfully against past data involving channel flow profiles.