Design of a Checked Pattern Flow Field for Efficient Water Removal in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The flow field in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is essential for efficiently managing water removal, especially at high current densities. This study designs a flow field that facilitates water removal and presents considerations for its implementation. A 3-path serpentine channel has been adopted as the reference model. When contact resistance is not considered, the performance of the check-pattern flow field is superior under all voltage conditions, with a maximum increase of 5.1%. When considering contact resistance, the performance is similar under most voltage conditions; however, at high current densities, the checked pattern flow field exhibits superior performance, improving by 5 to 7.2%. A larger rib area hinders water removal but reduces contact resistance. Therefore, the flow field should be designed by considering both rib area and contact resistance together.