Numerical Investigation Into Gas Flow in Bipolar Plate Channel of PEMFC Utilizing Lattice Boltzmann Method and Field Synergy Principle

作者：Tien Wei Chung; Yang Yue Tzu; Yen Tzu Hsiang; Chen Chao Kuang^*

来源：Journal of the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2011, 32(6): 549-558.

• Lattice Boltzmann method
• field synergy principle
• Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC)

This study performs numerical simulations based on the Lattice Boltzmann method to investigate the convective heat transfer and velocity characteristics of two-dimensional incompressible steady-state low Reynolds number gas flows in the bipolar plate channel and gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The simulations consider both a conventional bipolar plate channel with a flat wall surface and a channel containing a series of triangular obstacles of either constant or increasing size. The simulation results indicate that the introduction of the triangular obstacles enhances the transfer of the gas to the GDL and therefore improves the catalytic reaction in the catalyst layer. Additionally, applying the field synergy principle, it is shown that the interruption posed by the obstacles to the gas flow reduces the intersection angle between the velocity vector and the temperature gradient within the channel and therefore results in an enhanced convective heat transfer performance.

• 出版日期2011-12