Abstract:

Against the backdrop of rapid advancements in hydrogen energy technology, the flow channel design of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), as a key application, has been subjected to intensive study. This research developed a full-scale, single flow channel model of a PEMFC based on actual dimensions and incorporated baffle structures of varying shapes within the model to investigate, through simulation analysis, the impact of the geometric parameters of these baffles on cell performance. The results show that the presence of baffle structures significantly enhances power output, with increases in current density ranging from 10% to 31.25% and power boosts between 3% and 9.2%. Notably, a positive correlation exists between gas flow velocity and power output with the height of the baffles, with the performance of rectangular baffles at a height of 0.2 mm being optimal. This demonstrates that an appropriate baffle height can effectively improve PEMFC efficiency by enhancing mass transfer effects and optimizing the distribution of the working medium within the fuel cell, ameliorating water flooding in the latter half of the flow channel caused by water accumulation, thereby further augmenting cell power. Compared to the length of baffles, their height emerges as the primary direction for optimization. The study provides theoretical support for the optimization of full-scale PEMFC flow channels and offers guidance for enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen energy utilization.

Key words: proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), flow channel design, baffle structure, full-size modeling, comsol simulation