A wavy-parallel flow field channel for a bipolar plate of a lightweight metallic proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract

This study compares a wavy parallel flow field (WPFF) to a conventional parallel flow field (PFF) on a thin metallic bipolar plate (BP) by 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Additionally, the performance of WPFF single-channel cells with different channel depths was evaluated under identical operating conditions. Based on results, it shows that CFD simulations for thin metallic WPFF can be experimentally validated and thus used to predict the real operating conditions of the BP. Decreasing the channel depth slightly improved the current density and, consequently, its power density, while also increasing the pressure drop. The WPFF single-channel model produces maximum power densities within 0.262 W/cm² to 0.297 W/cm² for channel depths from 0.35 mm to 0.15 mm. Moreover, the WPFF design offers slight power density advantages over the PFF design, especially at lower voltages. WPFF and PFF single-channel models produce maximum power densities of 0.276 W/cm² and 0.266 W/cm², respectively. Furthermore, the full model single-cell WPFF and CFD produced power densities of 0.157 W/cm² and 0.158 W/cm² at 0.58 V, respectively. These findings demonstrate the viability of a WPFF design for a thin metallic BP in a lightweight PEMFC.