Performance evaluation of Enhanced Cross flow Split Serpentine Flow Field design for higher active area PEM fuel cells

The present work aims to study the efficacy of the Enhanced Cross Flow Split Serpentine Flow Field (ECSSFF) design for higher active area fuel cells. It is carried out by simulating the fuel cells with active areas of 50 cm(2), 100 cm(2), 150 cm(2) and 200 cm(2) using ECSSFF design as cathode channel and parallel design as anode channel. Performance of these cells are also compared against the performance of cells with triple serpentine flow design on cathode side. The results demonstrate the superiority of ECSSFF for all active areas in terms of offering higher currents, lower pressure drop and higher power output. The percentage increase in the net power output with ECSSFF design over TSFF design increases from 4.5% to 13.5% with increase in cell area from 50 cm(2) to 200 cm(2). The percentage drop in net power density with increase in active area for ECSSFF design is almost 55% less compared to that with triple serpentine design.The study establishes that the ECSSFF is a potential flow field design to be considered for higher area fuel cells for large scale power production. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.