ANALYSIS OF PEMFC WITH 2-PASSES SERPENTINE FLOW CHANNELS CONFIGURATION USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells have attracted considerable attention for their potential as clean energy sources. The efficient operation of fuel cells depends greatly on proper water management, which directly influences performance by affecting mass transport and conductivity. This study aimed to simulate and analyze the evolution of parameters such as hydrogen and oxygen molar fractions, relative humidity in the channels, water activity, and electrolyte conductivity in the membrane on fuel cell performance. A three-dimensional proton exchange membrane model with 2-pass serpentine flow channels was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The software was employed to numerically solve the complete model with governing equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and mass transport. Simulation results showed a significantly larger depletion of oxygen compared to hydrogen. Additionally, higher water activity near the air inlet led to increased oxygen content and local current density due to oxygen transport limiting the reaction rate. Furthermore, the membrane conductivity was significant where water activity was high, increasing current density distribution until 1A/cm2. The developed fuel cell model's performance was evaluated by comparing it with experimental data, demonstrating favorable agreement. This work contributes to understanding fuel cell operation for enhanced efficiency and reliability in practical applications.