Numerical Analysis of PEMFC Performance Improvement by a Cooling Channel

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy owing to the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The heat and water generated by the electrochemical reaction can lower the performance of the PEMFC; therefore, the cooling channel design should be considered to prolong its lifespan and improve its stability and power generation. In this study, PEMFC with/without a cooling channel is numerically simulated and compared to analyze the effect of the cooling channel on its performance. When the voltage is constant, the PEMFC with a cooling effect shows higher current and power densities, where the oxygen diffusion and electrochemical reaction rates increase. The performance of the PEMFC with the cooling channel improved by 165% as compared with that without the cooling channel.