Numerical analyses of a PEM fuel cell’s performance having a perforated type gas flow distributor

This paper presents the steady state, isothermal, three dimensional (3D) numerical analyses of an intermediate temperature, proton electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell's performance with the perforated type gas flow channels. Finite element based numerical technique is used to solve this multi transport numerical model coupled with the flow in porous medium, charge balance, electrochemical kinetics and membrane water content. Numerical analyses provided a detailed insight of the various physical phenomena, affecting this type of PEM fuel cell's performance. Results obtained from numerical analyses are compared with the experimental data and a good agreement is found. To validate this new design concept a comparison study is also carried out with the conventional PEM fuel cell having a serpentine type gas distributor. Results showed a better distribution of reactant species in the case of the perforated type gas distributor.

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