Performance Improvement of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell by Modified Flow Field Design

Abstract

Fuel cell is a device which is used to produce chemical energy into electrical energy. Proton Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was not polluting the environment and it has high efficiency. PEM fuel cell, in addition to electricity, water and small amount of heat are generated as by-products. This generated water on cathode side blocks the flow paths and reducing electrochemical reactions. So the low electrochemical reactions will affect the performance of fuel cell. To increase the performance of fuel cell, we can change the flow parameters and flow field design. A 3D model of new flow field channel has been designed with 25 cm2 active area with SOLID WORKS 2008. The solid model has been analyzed with ANSYS 14.5 software. Numerical values of PEMFC were obtained with ANSYS FLUENT 14.5. Comparison has been made for power density of new flow field design with power density of serpentine flow field design.