Progress of Cryogenics and Isotopes Separation , ISSN: 1582-2575
2006, Volume 9, Issue 17+18

Computational Model of a PEM Fuel Cell with Serpentine Gas Flow Channels

Abstract

PEM fuel cell systems and technologies have emerged as viable energy conversion devices for terrestrial applications (stationary and mobile). They offer huge economical and environmental potentials in the next generation power systems, but they are still more expensive than most conventional power conversion devices. Therefore, there is a need to optimize these technologies from the performance and costs point of view. Mathematical modeling proved to be the most important tool for PEM fuel cell optimization, providing the best solution for design, operating condition, experimentation and exploitation.

This paper proposes the study of a PEM fuel cell with fluid flow serpentine channels. Elaborating a comprehensive and detailed mathematical model for studying electrochemical, thermodynamical and fluid dynamical relations that occur in a PEM fuel cell serpentine channels, and solving numerically this model using a CFD software will result in a powerful modeling tool that can be viewed as an important alternative for fuel cell optimization processes and for reduction of exploitation/experimentation costs.