PEMFC 공기극 Serpentine 유로의 Zigzag Turn 각도에 따른 성능 분석

Abstract

Liquid water generated at the cathode catalyst layer in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) blocks oxygen access, reducing cell performance. This study numerically investigates the effect of turn angle in zigzag flow fields, a key design factor. Larger turn angles enhance under-rib convection, improve water removal, and increase oxygen concentration, resulting in better performance based on current density. However, they also cause higher pressure drops, raising pumping power. To assess overall efficiency, net power density was introduced by considering pressure loss. The results show that increasing the turn angle improves both water management and energy efficiency, offering valuable insights for flow field design in PEMFCs.