A numerical study on the effects of using combined flow fields and obstacles on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Abstract The flow field structure has an important influence on the comprehensive performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). This research investigates the effects of combined flow fields on the distribution of species concentration, the pressure drop, and the overall performance of PEMFC based on the polarization curve and power consumption ratio (PCR). Obstacles are arranged in different areas to study the mass transfer of the gas inside the combined flow field. The results show that the combined serpentine flow field improves the concentration distribution of species and the performance of the cell is enhanced with the increase of the proportion of the single‐channel serpentine structure in the combined flow field, but the PCR is decreased. The energy efficiency conversion in the low voltage region is better when the obstacles are arranged in the entire flow field. Moreover, the vortex effect generated by the obstacles enhances the convection ability under the rib parallel to the inlet direction, while the transverse vortex and secondary flow perpendicular to the inlet direction are weakened by the flow field structure so that the mass transfer of gas is enhanced.