Simulation of fine mesh implementation on the cathode for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

Highlights: • Fine mesh cause forced convection. • Fine mesh enhances species diffusion. • The mesh pattern promotes generated water drainage. • Fine mesh has shown around 12.6% power improvement. • Fine mesh has high pressure drop. This study presents the simulation of fine mesh implementation on proton exchange membrane fuel cell, on the cathode side. In relation to graphite triple serpentine flow channels, the proposed fine mesh design creates forced convection fluid flow. It further enhances specie diffusion through the gas diffusion layer, into the triple phase boundary (TPBL). Beside axial flow, multidirectional fluid flow is created, thus utilizing the active area. This design improves accumulated water drainage. The experimental results include property measurements for mass flow and polarization curves to understand the proposed design in relation to serpentine design performance. The fine mesh has shown around 12.6% power improvement, which can be further improved by coating the adopted titanium with a more conductive material. Five times high pressure drop has been rendered by the 3D fine mesh over the serpentine channels. The uncoated titanium used here has an interfacial contact resistance (ICR) of 22 mΩ cm² under a load of 15 kgf/cm².