Numerical and experimental investigation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell with perpendicular gas supply through the ridge

Cathode flow field plays a crucial role in the efficient gas supply and effective water removal of proton exchange membrane fuel cell. To understand the mechanism of cathode flow field structure on gas supply and water removal, a novel modified serpentine flow channel with vertical inlets through the ridge is proposed and investigated by numerical and experimental methods. The modified serpentine flow channel was compared with traditional serpentine flow channel in terms of performance and water and gas transmission paths, and experimental and simulation results are presented. A comparative analysis demonstrates that the modified serpentine flow channel significantly outperforms the traditional serpentine flow channel, achieving up to a 25.6 % increase in current density at an operating voltage of 0.2 V. The performance enhancement is attributed to reduced mass transfer resistance, resulting from a shift from counter-directional to concurrent flow of water and gas within the diffusion layer. This leads to an increase in the average oxygen molar concentration and a decrease in the average water molar concentration at the catalyst layer surface. This study provides novel insights into the design of flow field structures, presenting an innovative approach for optimizing the distribution of reactants and products in future applications.