Numerical prediction of concentration and current distributions in PEMFC

In this study, we present a rigorous 3-D mathematical model, to treat prediction and analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) species concentration and current density distributions in different flow field patterns and operating conditions. The model is based on the solution of the conservation equations of mass, momentum, species and electric current in a fully integrated finite-volume solver using the CFDRC commercial code. The polarization curve of serpentine flow pattern is well correlated with experimental data. The cell performance with parallel straight, serpentine and interdigitated flow patterns are calculated and compared. The simulation results reveal that serpentine and interdigitated flow patterns show strong convection and high mass transfer. However, they also have larger pressure loss. In addition, the effects of operating temperature and relative humidity are also studied. Non-uniform distributions of concentration and current density appear at high temperature, high current density and low humidity operation, which could lead to an unstable cell performance.