Simulation study of a water-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell with jacket type cooling channel

A new type of "jacket type" cooling channel was designed in order to improve the efficiency of a fuel cell, which is crucial for regulating its temperature. The choice of cooling channel structure significantly impacts the operational performance of the fuel cell. The results of the study indicate that among the two cooling channels investigated, the serpentine pipe cooling channel exhibited superior cooling performance. Specifically, it managed to reduce the maximum temperature of the battery from 388K to 333.45K under similar cooling conditions. Additionally, the current density generated by the serpentine flow channel was found to be 10% higher compared to that of the parallel flow channel. Consequently, selecting the appropriate cooling channel structure is essential for optimizing the operational efficiency and performance of fuel cells.