Numerical Simulation of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell with Rectangular and Triangular Cross-Section Area Channels

In the present study, the performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is numerically simulated for two channels with rectangular and triangular cross-section areas. A series of simulations is carried out to investigate both the influence of the humidity and the temperature of the input gas as two effective parameters on the performance of a PEM, which change from 10% to 100% and 30°C to 60°C, respectively. Numerical results indicate that more moisturized input gas produces a higher output voltage for both geometries. Furthermore, the triangular duct generates a higher output voltage in comparison with the rectangular duct, particularly, in the case of the parallel flow. In addition, the temperature of the input gas remarkably enhances the output voltage of the PEM. A qualitative agreement is achieved by comparing the present results to existing experimental data.