Numerical Simulation and Experimental Comparison of Single, Double and Triple Serpentine Flow Channel Configuration on Performance of a PEM Fuel Cell

In this study, the effect of single (1-S), double (2-S) and triple (3-S) serpentine flow field configuration on the performance of PEM fuel cell (PEMFC) was investigated both numerically and experimentally. First, a complete 3-D PEMFC model was developed, and simulations were carried out to examine the effect of 1-S, 2-S and 3-S flow field configuration on the performance of PEMFC using commercial CFD code ANSYS FLUENT. Along with the cell performance, important parameters such as pressure distribution, mass fraction of hydrogen, oxygen, liquid water activity, current flux density distribution and the membrane water content have been presented. Next, an experimental study is carried out with a PEMFC by changing 1-S, 2-S and 3-S flow field configurations to verify the numerical predictions. Finally numerically and experimentally obtained performance curves have been compared, and 1-S flow channel fuel cell is found to exhibit the best electrochemical performance compared with the 2-S and 3-S flow channel fuel cells.