Modeling of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with metal foam in the flow-field of the bipolar/end plates

摘要: Abstract A unified, three-dimensional, steady-state numerical mass-transfer single cell model for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel (PEMFC) was developed. The modeled uses metal foam in the flow-field of bipolar/end plates instead conventionally used rectangular channels. Transport equations formulated under PEMFC conditions were solved using commercial computational fluid dynamics software Fluent ® 6.0 with Gambit 2.0 as pre-processor. Simulations performed different permeability levels flow-field. Results showed a significant effect on performance cell. For example: at 10 −6  m 2 value average current density 5943 A/m while −11 permeability, 8325 A/m . multi-parallel channel design (channel width=0.0625 in., depth=0.0625 in. and land width=0.0625 in.), which corresponded to an equivalent 4.4×10 −8 7019 A/m This porous configuration same similar temperature, pressure reactants flow rate slightly lower 6794 A/m trend indicated that decreasing results better from However, can not be decreased below around , due difficulty machining thinner Consequently, use is proposed plate. developed offers developers scope improvement cell, by switching over concept.