Numerical Study of the Flow Field Distributor in High-temperature Proton-exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Uniformity is one of the essential factors for improving the performance of high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs). In this study, a new distributor model is established, designed using Murray's law, and the uniformity evaluated in parallel flow fields. The results indicate that the uniformity of oxygen (O2) distribution in the parallel flow field is directly related to the distributor. Implementing a new distributor, the power density of the cell is increased by 25.2%, uniformity index of O2 distribution increases by 79.48%, and average pressure drop of the flow field increases by 15.67%. Discussions of theoretical calculations reveal that the average pressure drop was the main factor affecting the uniformity index. Increasing the average pressure drop can improve O2 consumption and uniformity of O2 distribution.