Numerical Investigation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance Based on Different Flow Channel Cross-sectional Designs

This study addresses the optimization of High-Temperature Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFCs), focusing on the impact of flow channel shapes on performance metrics like cross-sectional area, pressure drop, and polarization curves. A 3D COMSOL model analyzed five channel shapes: rectangular, triangular, trapezoidal, inverted trapezoidal, and elliptical. The triangular channel showed the highest reactant consumption at 0.4 V, enhancing cell performance by increasing reactant entry into the GDL and gas permeation. Despite higher voltage and power output, optimal current density is advised at 0.9 A/m<sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup>. The study concludes that triangular channels improve performance in high-temperature PEMFCs, providing insights for channel design optimization.