Review on Design and Experiment Analysis of Two Cell Stack Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

Design and experimental analysis of two cell stack PEM fuel cell with curvilinear flow field plate is done for doing comparison with single cell PEM fuel cell with serpentine flow field pattern to see the changes in output based on design of flow field and by increasing the active area. Following review is specially done on two cell stack PEM fuel cell in which the active area is 25 cm²; and curvilinear flow pattern; in which there are two cells with one bipolar plate having both sides grooved; and compared with single cell PEM fuel cell which has 16 cm² active area and serpentine flow field pattern. Other components like end plate, current collector, flow field plates are of same material in both the cells. Due to the non-uniform hydrogen fuel and air distributions within fuel cells, the stack design is one of the key factors to improve the performance and efficiency of PEMFC. For the continuous distribution of the reactants all over the catalyst surface through the flow channels, flow patterns or paths machined on the flow field plates/bipolar plates (in case of stack) are important. The pattern guides the reactants to gas diffusion layer for correct distribution. The incorrect flow distribution may affect the fuel cell stack performance. Thus, the design of more effective flow channels has received considerable attention of the researchers.

Keywords: Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), cell stack, design parameter, bipolar plate, and curvilinear flow filed pattern, serpentine flow field plate, performance analysis