Performance analysis of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with the stair arrangement of obstacles in the cathode channel
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 5 September 2023
Issue publication date: 22 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the effect of partially blocking the cathode channel with the stair arrangement of obstacles on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
Design/methodology/approach
A numerical study is conducted by developing a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model.
Findings
As the angle of the stair arrangement increases, the performance of the fuel cell is reduced and the pressure drop is decreased. The use of four stair obstacles with an angle of 0.17° leads to higher power density and a lower pressure drop compared to the case with three rectangular obstacles of the same size and maximum height. The use of four stair obstacles with an angle of 0.34° results in higher power density and lower pressure drop compared to the case with two rectangular obstacles of the same size and maximum height.
Originality/value
Using the stair arrangement of obstacles as an innovation of the present work, in addition to improving the fuel cell’s performance, creates a lower pressure drop than the simple arrangement of obstacles.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University under grant number 4991 (27–5–2023).
Citation
Baharlou-Houreh, N., Masaeli, N., Afshari, E. and Mohammadzadeh, K. (2023), "Performance analysis of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with the stair arrangement of obstacles in the cathode channel", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 33 No. 12, pp. 3940-3966. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-03-2023-0149
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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