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Performance Comparison of PEM Fuel Cell with Enhanced Cross-Flow Split Serpentine and Single Serpentine Flow Field Designs

  • Research Article-Chemical Engineering
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Abstract

The present study is aimed at demonstrating the efficacy of enhanced cross-flow split serpentine flow field (ECSSFF) over the single serpentine flow field (SSFF) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell of 55 cm2 active area using three-dimensional, multiphase, full-scale CFD simulations. For the present study, pure air and hydrogen are used as reactants on cathode and anode side, respectively. The effect of rib width-to-channel width ratio on the cell performance for the two flow field designs is studied. The power output of the three-channeled ECSSFF is studied and compared with the performance of SSFF at different operating temperatures and pressures. The performance displayed by ECSSFF design is on par with that of SSFF design with almost 30 times lesser pressure drop. ECSSFF has exhibited superior performance in terms of offering high currents and low pressure drops compared to SSFF.

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Abbreviations

BCGSTAB:

Bi-conjugate gradient stabilize method

BP:

Bipolar plate

CC:

Current collectors

CL:

Catalyst layer

CW:

Channel width

ECSSFF:

Enhanced cross-flow split serpentine flow field

GDL:

Gas diffusion layer

GFC:

Gas flow channel

LBM:

Lattice–Boltzmann method

MEA:

Membrane electrode assembly

MPL:

Membrane porous layer

PEM:

Proton exchange membrane

PEMFC:

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell

RH:

Relative humidity

RW:

Rib width

SSFF:

Single serpentine flow field

TSFF:

Triple serpentine flow field

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, NIT Warangal, Warangal, 506004, India

    Sheikh Abdulla, Murali Mohan Seepana & Venkata Suresh Patnaikuni

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  1. Sheikh Abdulla
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  2. Murali Mohan Seepana
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  3. Venkata Suresh Patnaikuni
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Correspondence to Venkata Suresh Patnaikuni.

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Abdulla, S., Seepana, M.M. & Patnaikuni, V.S. Performance Comparison of PEM Fuel Cell with Enhanced Cross-Flow Split Serpentine and Single Serpentine Flow Field Designs. Arab J Sci Eng 45, 7691–7703 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-04803-0

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