Three-dimensional model of a 50 cm2 high temperature PEM fuel cell. Study of the flow channel geometry influence

In this work, a three-dimensional half-cell model for a 50 cm2 high temperature polyelectrolyte membrane fuel cell (HTPEMFC) has been implemented in a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) application. It was solved for three different flow channel geometries: 4-step serpentine, parallel and pin-type. Each geometry leads to a very well defined current density profile which indicates that current density distribution is directly linked to the way reactants are spread over the electrode surface. The model predicts that parallel flow channels present a significant lower performance probably due to the existence of preferential paths which makes the reactant gases not to be well distributed over the whole electrode surface. This results in lower output current densities when this geometry is used, especially at high oxygen demand conditions. This behavior was also detected by experimental measurement. Serpentine and pin-type flow channels were found to perform very similarly, although slightly higher limit current densities are predicted when using serpentine geometry. Inlet flow rate as well as temperature influence were also studied. The model predicts mass transfer problems and low limit current densities when the fuel cell is fed with small oxygen flow rates, whereas no differences regarding average flow rates are noticed if it is over increased. Better fuel cell performance is predicted while temperature grows as it could be expected.