Research on mass transport characteristics and net power performance under different flow channel streamlined imitated water-drop block arrangements for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

The flow channel structure affects the fluid flow, gas diffusion, and electrochemical reactions for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). In this work, the flow channel structure is modified to improve the performance of PEMFC by adding streamlined blocks. First, four different imitated water-drop (IWD) blocks installed in the flow channel are designed based on the low resistance and high speed of streamline shape. Then, the different optimal imitated water-drop block arrangement spacing in the flow channel is investigated for PEMFC. Finally, the net power of the flow channel with optimal imitated water-drop shape and arrangement spacing is compared with the basic straight channel and trapezoid channel. Results show that the fourth imitated water-drop block has the highest net power when installed in the flow channel. Furthermore, the mass transport performance is further improved with the block spacing decreasing. The net power of the optimal imitated water-drop block channel with 2 mm block spacing is higher than that of the basic straight channel and the trapezoid channel. Therefore, the streamlined imitated water-drop blocks installed in the flow channel for PEMFC can strengthen the gas transfer capability, accelerate the electrochemical reaction, and obtain the better net power.