Computational Investigation of Pressure Loss and Performance Features in PEMFC Flow Channels With Different Widened Sections

ABSTRACT Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are highly efficient electrochemical energy converters utilized for the production of sustainable, renewable, and clean power. A cell contains a membrane, bipolar plates housing flow channels, gas diffusion, and catalyst layers. The channel geometry influences pressure loss along the channel and transporting the reactant gases to porous layers. In this article, the influence of distinct widened sections in a square channel having a small cross‐sectional area of 0.2 × 0.2 mm 2 on PEMFC performance is examined via ANSYS Fluent for 0.4–0.6 V. The enlarged section length varies 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the length of cell ( L = 70 mm). The results revealed that the new configurations with enlarged sections significantly diminished the pressure loss in the channels with a slight decline in the current density. The innovative channel configuration having a widened section with a length of 3 L /4 reduces the current density, anode and cathode pressure drops of 5.8%, 40.4%, and 46.0%, respectively, compared to the square channel for 0.4 V. Considering pressure losses through the flow channels, this channel configuration is a better choice to enhance PEMFC efficiency.