Design of Inlet Manifold for PEM Fuel Cells and Numerical Analysis

고분자 전해질 연료전지를 위한 연료주입구 설계 및 수치해석

The Performance of a PEMFC stack is strongly dependent on the uniform reactants distribution on MEA. The uniform distribution can be achieved by flow-field pattern and manifold design optimized to satisfy operating conditions. This paper investigates uniform reactants distribution in channels by changing manifold shape and inlet mass flow rate. Typical U and Z shape and modified U and Z shape manifolds with buffer zone were designed. To check the uniform reactants distribution, standard deviation of mass flow rate was compared. The numerical results show that the inlet mass flow rate, inlet shape, and manifolds shape are critical factor for uniform distribution.