Optimization of Flow Channel Design and Operating Parameters on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Using MATLAB

Abstract

Operating parameters like pressure, temperature, the stoichiometric ratio of reactants, relative humidity and design parameters like rib width to channel width (L:C), the shape of the flow channel and the number of passes on the flow channel are influencing the performance of the Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). In this paper, optimization of operating and design parameters such as pressure, temperature, inlet reactant mass flow rate and various rib width to channel width (L:C) 1:1, 1:2, 2:1 and 2:2 on serpentine and interdigitated flow channel of 25cm2 active area of the PEMFC was considered. Creo Parametric 1.0 and CFD Fluent 14.0 software packages were used to create the 3 Dimensional (3- D) model and simulation of PEMFC. The optimization was carried out on the various parameters with MINITAB 17 software and MATLAB software. From the first stage, the Landing to channel width (L: C) - 1:1 of serpentine and the interdigitated flow channel has the maximum influence on fuel cell performance and square of response factor (R2) was achieved from the Taguchi method by MINITAB 17 software as 99.48 and 99.71 % respectively. In the second stage, the regression equation or mathematical model obtained from MINITAB 17 software were fed into the MATLAB software to get optimized parameters. Further the power densities were obtained corresponding to the optimized parameters using the CFD Fluent 14.0 software.