Optimized anode, cathode and coolant flow designs for enhanced performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

This study deals with various flow field designs for anode, cathode and coolant plates for optimizing the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell using H₂ and air. In particular, the 3D models with various flow field patterns such as single parallel serpentine (anode), multi parallel (anode), multi-parallel serpentine (cathode), multi serpentine (cathode) have been evaluated for enhancing the fuel cell performance at 60 °C, with three different coolant flow designs (mirror serpentine, multi serpentine and parallel serpentine). Both the peak power and limiting current density are considered based on the parameters such as temperature distribution, pressure distribution, reactants/species distribution and the membrane water content on the active area (50 cm²) region. It is interesting to note that the coolant channel also has a significant effect in regulating the fuel cell performance at high current densities, in addition to reactant gas flow channels. The simulated single cell with Nafion (thickness: 18 μm) demonstrates a peak power density of 0.97 W cm⁻² with single parallel serpentine (anode), multi parallel serpentine (cathode) and serpentine (coolant) and 0.91 W cm⁻² with multi parallel (anode), multi serpentine (cathode), and parallel serpentine (coolant) flow field designs. The simulated fuel cell performance is also experimentally validated at 60 °C using H₂ fuel and air as the oxidant.