Experimental investigation of the effect of channel length on performance and water accumulation in a PEMFC parallel flow field

Longer channels within serpentine flow fields are highly effective at removing liquid water slugs and have little water accumulation; however, the long flow path causes a large pressure drop across the cell. This results in both a significant concentration gradient between the inlet and outlet, and high pumping losses. Parallel flow fields have a shorter flow path and smaller pressure drop between the inlet and outlet. This low pressure drop and multiple routes for reactants in parallel channels allows for significant formation of liquid water slugs and water accumulation. To investigate these differences, a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell parallel flow field with the ability to modify the length of the channels was designed, fabricated, and tested. Polarization curves and the performance, water accumulation, and pressure drop were measured during 15 min of 0.5 A cm−2 steady-state operation. An analysis of variance was performed to determine if the channel length had a significant effect on performance. It was found that the longer 25 cm channels had significantly higher and more stable performance than the shorter 5 cm channels with an 18% and an 87% higher maximum power density and maximum current density, respectively. Channel lengths which result in a pressure drop, across the flow field, slightly larger than that required to expel liquid water slugs were found to have minimal water accumulation and high performance, while requiring minimal parasitic pumping power.