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Boosting the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with porous flow fields: Pros and cons.

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Title: Boosting the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with porous flow fields: Pros and cons.
Authors: García-Salaberri, Pablo A.1 (AUTHOR) pablo.salaberri@urjc.es, Perego, Andrea2,3 (AUTHOR), Wu, Rui4 (AUTHOR), Zenyuk, Iryna V.2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Energy. Mar2025, Vol. 318, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Channel flow, Drag force, Ohmic contacts, Ohmic resistance, Channels (Hydraulic engineering), Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Abstract: The design of the cathode flow field plays a relevant role in the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Recently, porous flow fields have emerged as an alternative to conventional rib/channel flow fields (e.g., serpentine flow field) in an attempt to increase PEMFC performance. In this work, we aim to shed light on pros and cons of both bipolar plate types by analyzing transport through porous and rib/channel flow fields using experimental and numerical work. The experimental polarization curves and oxygen transport resistance data of a cathode porous flow field are used to validate the numerical model. Then, a comprehensive parametric study of the model is presented, involving both operating and constructive parameters. The results show that the main advantages of porous flow fields are: (i) the improvement of oxygen transport, (i i) the decrease of flooding in the cathode MEA, and (i i i) the increase of the distribution homogeneity in the in-plane direction of physical parameters (e.g., current density and temperature). In contrast, the main disadvantages are: (i) the potential effect of electrical contact resistances between porous surfaces, and (i i) the decrease of the water removal drag force in the cathode channel. The above two issues can be mitigated using: (i) thinly manufactured foams and/or increasing the assembly compression, and (i i) hybrid porous flow fields that incorporate a rib/channel pattern with fine pore-size porous ribs. [Display omitted] • Pros/cons of cathode porous flow fields are examined with a validated model. • Oxygen transport is enhanced, MEA saturation reduced, and homogeneity increased. • Ohmic contact resistance and water accumulation in flow field reduce performance. • Thin and highly compressed foams can mitigate the above adverse effects. • Combination of rib-channel/porous flow fields can also provide a good design trade-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Energy is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 183217721
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Boosting the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with porous flow fields: Pros and cons.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energy%22">Energy</searchLink>. Mar2025, Vol. 318, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Channel+flow%22">Channel flow</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drag+force%22">Drag force</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohmic+contacts%22">Ohmic contacts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohmic+resistance%22">Ohmic resistance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Channels+%28Hydraulic+engineering%29%22">Channels (Hydraulic engineering)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Proton+exchange+membrane+fuel+cells%22">Proton exchange membrane fuel cells</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The design of the cathode flow field plays a relevant role in the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Recently, porous flow fields have emerged as an alternative to conventional rib/channel flow fields (e.g., serpentine flow field) in an attempt to increase PEMFC performance. In this work, we aim to shed light on pros and cons of both bipolar plate types by analyzing transport through porous and rib/channel flow fields using experimental and numerical work. The experimental polarization curves and oxygen transport resistance data of a cathode porous flow field are used to validate the numerical model. Then, a comprehensive parametric study of the model is presented, involving both operating and constructive parameters. The results show that the main advantages of porous flow fields are: (i) the improvement of oxygen transport, (i i) the decrease of flooding in the cathode MEA, and (i i i) the increase of the distribution homogeneity in the in-plane direction of physical parameters (e.g., current density and temperature). In contrast, the main disadvantages are: (i) the potential effect of electrical contact resistances between porous surfaces, and (i i) the decrease of the water removal drag force in the cathode channel. The above two issues can be mitigated using: (i) thinly manufactured foams and/or increasing the assembly compression, and (i i) hybrid porous flow fields that incorporate a rib/channel pattern with fine pore-size porous ribs. [Display omitted] • Pros/cons of cathode porous flow fields are examined with a validated model. • Oxygen transport is enhanced, MEA saturation reduced, and homogeneity increased. • Ohmic contact resistance and water accumulation in flow field reduce performance. • Thin and highly compressed foams can mitigate the above adverse effects. • Combination of rib-channel/porous flow fields can also provide a good design trade-off. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Energy is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134728
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Channel flow
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Drag force
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ohmic contacts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ohmic resistance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Channels (Hydraulic engineering)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Boosting the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with porous flow fields: Pros and cons.
        Type: main
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      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: García-Salaberri, Pablo A.
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            NameFull: Perego, Andrea
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            NameFull: Wu, Rui
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            NameFull: Zenyuk, Iryna V.
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 318
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