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Simulation of Flow in a Rectangular Channel of a PEM Fuel Cell

A. L. R. Paulino [1], E. Robalinho [2], E. F. Cunha [1], M. Linardi [1], R. R. Passos [3], E. I. Santiago [1]
[1] Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares – IPEN/CNEN, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
[2] Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares – IPEN/CNEN, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; and Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Sul – IFRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
[3] Universidade Federal do Amazonas – UFAM, Manaus, AM, Brazil
Published in 2015

The performance of a PEMFC depends on several factors, including the flow inside gas channels. Low gas velocity inside the channel can make water management more difficult, possibly causing water to accumulate and condense in certain regions of the cell.

In the present work, COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to visualize and describe gas flow inside the channel of a PEMFC operating with humidified hydrogen and oxygen. It was verified that gas velocity changes along the channel and, decreasing in the anode and increasing in the cathode. This is interesting because, while water is being produced in the cathode, it can be better removed from the cell, as higher velocities prevent water accumulation inside the channels.

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