Numerical study of hydrothermal and flow characteristics of PEMFC folded porous cathode flow field.

In order to solve the problems of uneven component diffusion, weak mass transfer capability and flow field flooding in the conventional flow field of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), and to improve the cell output power. In this paper, a novel folded porous cathode flow field is proposed. A numerical model of three-dimensional multiphase flow is established for comparative study, which reveals the relationship between the component flow characteristics and mass transfer performance of PEMFC. The folding rib structure of the novel flow field triggers gas vortices in the channel and generates secondary flow, improves the mass transfer capability of reactants between the channel and the GDL, and alleviates the drainage problem of the porous layer under the rib. The angle, length and number of folding at the rib of the flow field were mainly changed, and the mass fraction difference coefficient (CV Mi) was used to compare the uniformity of the distribution of the components of the flow field, and the optimal flow field structure was obtained as FP6-7, which increased the current density by 44.9% compared with the traditional linear flow field. For the first time, the secondary flow evaluation criterion absolute vortex flux number J ABS n was introduced to evaluate the mass transfer performance. The influence of fluid flow characteristics on the mass transfer performance is revealed. • The folded porous (FP) flow field improves the mass transfer capacity. • The current density of PEMFC based on FP6-7 flow field was increased by 44.9%. • The mass fraction difference coefficient (CV Mi) was used to evaluate the uniformity of water-air distribution in the flow field. • The absolute vortex flux (J ABS n ) is used for the first time to evaluate the mass transfer characteristics. • The relationship between the flow characteristics of components and the mass transfer capacity in the flow field is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]