Synergistic Optimization of Novel Flow Fields for Enhancing Mass Transfer in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

In proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), rational flow field design is crucial for water management and gas supply, both of which jointly determine the cell’s net power density. In this work, a novel airfoil and fishbone-shaped flow field (AFFF) is proposed for enhancing the channel and rib structures in a synergistic manner. First, the geometry of AFFF is optimized through the implementation of orthogonal tests to ascertain the optimal geometric parameters and levels. Second, the optimized AFFF (AF7) is analyzed for multiphysics field coupling. The findings of the study suggest that AF7 demonstrates notable advantages. On the one hand, the fishbone structure improves the oxygen consumption rate under the rib region and shortens the fuel diffusion path. On the other hand, the airfoil block increases the airflow velocity by reducing the cross-sectional size of the channel. Compared to the conventional parallel flow field (CPFF), the AF7 achieves a 12.69% increase in current density and an 8.36% improvement in the average oxygen concentration at the gas diffusion layer (GDL) and catalyst layer (CL) interface. Furthermore, the net power density of AF7 is 8.58% greater than that of CPFF, thereby underscoring its efficacy in practical applications.