LAPSE:2023.35658
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.35658
Power Output Optimisation via Arranging Gas Flow Channels for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles
James Chilver-Stainer, Anas F. A. Elbarghthi, Chuang Wen, Mi Tian
May 23, 2023
As we move away from internal combustion engines to tackle climate change, the importance of hydrogen-powered vehicles and polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology has dramatically increased. In the present study, we aimed to determine the optimal configuration for the power output of a PEMFC system using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling to analyse variations of the primary serpentine design of gas flow channels. This helps improve efficiency and save on valuable materials used, reducing potential carbon emissions from the production of hydrogen vehicles. Different numbers of serpentine gas channels were represented with various spacing between them, within the defined CFD model, to optimise the gas channel geometry. The results show that the optimum configuration was found to have 11 serpentine channels with a spacing of 3.25 mm. In this optimum configuration, the ratio between the channel width, channel spacing, and serpentine channel length was found to be 1:2.6:38 for PEMFCs. Furthermore, the inclusion of fillets to the bends of the serpentine gas channels was found to have a negative effect on the overall power output of the fuel cell. Moreover, the optimisation procedures with respect to the number of gas channels and the spacing revealed an optimal power density exceeding 0.65 W/cm2.
Keywords
Computational Fluid Dynamics, fuel cell, gas flow channel, Hydrogen, hydrogen-powered vehicle, micro porous layer, optimal configuration, polymer electrolyte membrane, power output
Suggested Citation
Chilver-Stainer J, Elbarghthi AFA, Wen C, Tian M. Power Output Optimisation via Arranging Gas Flow Channels for Low-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) for Hydrogen-Powered Vehicles. (2023). LAPSE:2023.35658
Author Affiliations
Chilver-Stainer J: Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
Elbarghthi AFA: Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK; Department of Applied Mechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Studentská 1402/2, 46117 Liberec, Czech Republic [ORCID]
Wen C: Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK [ORCID]
Tian M: Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
16
Issue
9
First Page
3722
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-04-26
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en16093722, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.35658
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doi:10.3390/en16093722
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May 23, 2023
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May 23, 2023
 
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Calvin Tsay
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