Design and Performance Analysis of a Novel Gradient Flow Field Structure for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

ABSTRACT The design of flow fields is crucial for enhancing the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Drawing inspiration from the formation of migratory birds and the streamlined design of airfoils for drag reduction, this article introduces an airfoil gradient flow field (AGFF), developed from a conventional parallel flow field (CPFF). A coupled multi‐physics model is established to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed flow field. Numerical results indicate that the gradient configuration significantly improves power density compared to a uniform block arrangement. Specifically, the symmetric airfoil gradient flow field (AGFF(S))‐I design achieves a 2.15% increase in net power density. Moreover, the gradient layout alleviates oxygen starvation and water flooding in the mid‐ to downstream regions. Even with variations in wing block shape, Arrangement I (decreasing gradient) remains superior to other designs. Thus, the gradient flow field offers a simple yet effective strategy for optimizing PEMFCs.