Numerical Simulation of a PEM fuel cell with partially blocked channel

The attempt is made to apply a structure for cathode gas channel of PEM fuel cell that is partial blocked by one or more baffle plates. In order to investigate the effects of the selected shape, size and the number of baffle plates on the oxygen transport in the gas diffusion layer a two - dimensional simulation is carried out in 27 cases. A dimensionless number called CHB is introduced to represent channel blocking, as a criterion for choosing the optimum cases that cause maximum oxygen concentration in the catalyst layer and minimum pressure drop along channel. By installing three large rectangular baffles in one attempt and then two large rectangular baffles in another , the least amount of CHB ranked the first and second, respectively. Installing three large semicircle baffles in the same channel is ranked the third, where CHB is slightly higher than its value in the best condition with a lower pressure drop in specific. So when there is restriction in securing pressure in fuel cell, installing the semicircle baffle is better than the rectangular one. By installing the triangle baffle, the CHB will increase significantly