Performance analysis of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with traveling-wave flow fields based on Grey-relational theory.

A traveling-wave flow field is established and investigated for the performance improvement effect of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This study analyzes the influence of multiple structural parameters of traveling-wave length, wave height, wave number, and wave spacing on the flow law, mass transfer characteristics, and output performance of PEMFC, and obtains the weight coefficient of each structural parameter through the Grey-relational theory. Simulation results show that the traveling-wave flow field has excellent oxygen transport and drainage functions, and its corresponding functional structures are wave crest and wave trough respectively. Compared with the conventional flow field (CFF), the effective mass transfer coefficient (EMTC) at the BPP/GDL interface can be increased about 35.89–118%, and the drainage at the BPP/GDL interface can be increased about 0.9–2.24%, and the net power density of the PEMFC can be increased about 4.45–11.17% of the PEMFC with traveling-wave flow field. In addition, the weighting relationship of the traveling-wave structural parameters on the mass transfer performance and net power density is wave height > wave number > wave length > wave spacing. • Flow field with a traveling-wave structure for PEMFC is designed. • Effects of traveling-wave structural parameters on the PEMFC performance are investigated. • Increasing the height of the traveling-wave has a significant impact on the PEMFC performance. • Mass transfer coefficient of a traveling-wave flow field can be increased about 35.89–118%. • Net power density of the PEMFC achieves an improvement between 4.45% and 11.17%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]