Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Pin Dimensions on the Performance of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Featuring a Honeycomb Pin Flow Field

The performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells is heavily influenced by the design of the gas flow field, especially on the cathode side. An effective flow field configuration ensures optimal reactant gas distribution, uniform current density, efficient water and heat management, and improved overall fuel cell efficiency. A novel honeycomb flow field design featuring hexagonal pins, as opposed to traditional channel-based designs, demonstrates potential for enhancing fuel cell performance. The dimensions of the pins and the channels housing them are crucial design factors in this novel approach. This study presents a three-dimensional model that numerically solves the equations of continuity, momentum, energy, charge conservation, and electrochemical kinetics across different regions of the fuel cell using a single-domain methodology. The investigation focuses on how variations in the dimensions of the channels and pins within the honeycomb flow field influence the overall performance of the fuel cell. Key design objectives include achieving uniform distribution of reactant gases and current density, enhancing voltage and power density, and minimizing pressure drop. The findings reveal that in a fuel cell equipped with a honeycomb flow field, the velocity within the pin region is significantly higher, leading to improved oxygen transport to the catalyst layer. The strategic arrangement and dimensions of the pins contribute to a more uniform distribution of oxygen and power density. While this innovative flow field design increases cell voltage and power density, it also results in a higher pressure drop compared to conventional parallel-channel configurations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell ، Honeycomb flow field ، Pin ، Geometric parameters ، computational fluid dynamics