Experimental evaluation of proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance with sinusoidal flow channel designs

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) with three distinct flow field designs were investigated: sinusoidal with a diffuser at the intake, sinusoidal serpentine, and serpentine flow fields. The sinusoidal flow field with a diffuser at the intake has been found to be the best flow field design. Following that, parametric experiments were performed on PEMFCs equipped with a sinusoidal flow field with a diffuser at the intake. Operating pressures (1-3 bar), back pressures (0-3 bar), anode humidification temperatures (40 degrees C-80 degrees C), cathode humidification temperatures (40 degrees C-70 degrees C), anode flow rates (250 sccm to 350 sccm) and cathode flow rates (250 sccm to 400 sccm) and cell operating temperatures (COT) ranging from 40 degrees C to 70 degrees C were all adjusted. The experimental findings showed that a COT of 60 degrees C, a 3-bar back pressure, a 3-bar working pressure, cathode humidification at 70 degrees C, anode humidification at 60 degrees C, and flow rates of 300 sccm for the anode and 350 sccm for the cathode resulted in the best PEMFC performance.