Heat transfer in a PEMFC flow channel

A numerical method was applied to the heat transfer performance in the flow channel for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) using the finite element method (FEM). The heat transfer enhancement has been analyzed by transversely installing a baffle plate and a rectangular cylinder to manage flow pattern in the flow channel of the fuel cell. Case studies include baffle plates (gap ratios from 00.05 to 0.2) and the rectangular cylinder (width-to-height ratios from 0.66 to 1.66 with a constant gap ratio of 0.2; various gap ratios from 0.05 to 0.3 with a constant width-to-height ratio 1.0) at constant Reynolds number. The results show that the transverse installation of a baffle plate and a rectangular cylinder in the flow channel can effectively enhance the local heat transfer performance of a PEMFC. The installation of a rectangular cylinder has a better effective heat transfer performance than a baffle plate; the larger the width of the cylinder is the better effective heat transfer performance becomes.