Wei Shi^1,2, Shusheng Xiong^1,2,3,*, Wei Li^2,3, Kai Meng⁴, Qingsheng Liu⁴

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.9, pp. 3507-3523, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.065579 - 26 August 2025

Abstract In the realm of all-electric aircraft research, the integration of cathode-open proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) with lithium batteries as a hybrid power source for small to medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has garnered significant attention. The PEMFC, serving as the primary energy supply, markedly extends the UAV’s operational endurance. However, due to payload limitations and spatial constraints in the airframe layout of UAVs, the stack requires customized adaptation. Moreover, the implementation of auxiliary systems to facilitate cold starts of the PEMFC under low-temperature conditions is not feasible. Relying solely on thermal insulation measures… More >

Hongen Li, Hongjuan Ren^*, Cong Li, Yecui Yan

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.23, No.3, pp. 921-941, 2025, DOI:10.32604/fhmt.2025.066512 - 30 June 2025

Abstract The flow field architecture of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cathode critically determines its performance. To enhance PEMFC operation through structural optimization, trapezoidal obstacles were implemented in the cathode flow channels. The height dependence of these obstacles was systematically investigated, revealing that a 0.7 mm obstacle height enhanced mass transfer from channels to the gas diffusion layer (GDL) compared to conventional triple-serpentine designs. This configuration achieved a 12.08% increase in limiting current density alongside improved water management. Subsequent studies on obstacle distribution density identified 75% density as optimal, delivering maximum net power density More >

Ziyang Niu^1,#, Xiaofen Wang^2,4,#, Yuanyuan Li^1,2,3,*, Zhuo He², Feng Huang¹, Qianjun Deng², Fei Hu², Qiongyu Zhou^2,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.42, No.1, pp. 57-80, 2025, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2025.060401 - 27 March 2025

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have gained increasing interests as promising power sources due to their ability to convert hydrogen and oxygen directly into electricity with high efficiency and zero greenhouse gas emissions. Bipolar plates (BPs) are considered as a critical component of PEMFCs, serving to collect current, separate gases, distribute the flow field, and conduct heat. This paper reviews the technical status and advancements in BP materials, with special focus on strategies for enhancing interfacial contact resistance (ICR) and corrosion resistance through conductive polymer (CP) coatings. First, commonly used BP materials in PEMFCs More >

Abubakar Unguwanrimi Yakubu^1,2,4, Jiahao Zhao¹, Qi Jiang¹, Xuanhong Ye¹, Junyi Liu¹, Qinglong Yu¹, Shusheng Xiong^1,3,4,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.122, No.3, pp. 1025-1051, 2025, DOI:10.32604/ee.2025.057680 - 07 March 2025

Abstract This study uses numerical simulations of liquid cooling flow fields to investigate polymer exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) thermal control. The research shows that the optimum cooling channel design significantly reduces the fuel cell’s temperature differential, improving overall efficiency. Specifically, the simulations show a reduction in the maximum temperature by up to 15% compared to traditional designs. Additionally, according to analysis, the Nusselt number rises by 20% with the implementation of serpentine flow patterns, leading to enhanced heat transfer rates. The findings demonstrate that effective cooling strategies can lead to a 10% increase in fuel More >

Qianqian Shao¹, Min Wang^2,*, Nuo Xu¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.139, No.2, pp. 1337-1356, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2023.044313 - 29 January 2024

Abstract To investigate the influences of co-flow and counter-flow modes of reactant flow arrangement on a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) during start-up, unsteady physical and mathematical models fully coupling the flow, heat, and electrochemical reactions in a PEMFC are established. The continuity equation and momentum equation are solved by handling pressure-velocity coupling using the SIMPLE algorithm. The electrochemical reaction rates in the catalyst layers (CLs) of the cathode and anode are calculated using the Butler-Volmer equation. The multiphase mixture model describes the multiphase transport process of gas mixtures and liquid water in the fuel… More >

Wen Sun¹, Meijing Li², Guoxiang Li¹, Ke Sun^1,*, Shuzhan Bai^1,*

Energy Engineering, Vol.121, No.1, pp. 95-110, 2024, DOI:10.32604/ee.2023.042096 - 27 December 2023

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are widely regarded as having the potential to replace internal combustion engines in vehicles. Since fuel cells cannot recover energy and have a slow dynamic response, they need to be used with different power sources. Developing efficient energy management strategies to achieve excellent fuel economy is the goal of research. This paper proposes an adaptive equivalent fuel minimum consumption strategy (AECMS) to solve the problem of the poor economy of the whole vehicle caused by the wrong selection of equivalent factors (EF) in traditional ECMS. In this method, the kinematics More >

Jian Yao, Fayi Yan^*, Xuejian Pei

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.19, No.6, pp. 1425-1445, 2023, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2023.025282 - 30 January 2023

Abstract Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are largely used in various applications because of their pollution-free products and high energy conversion efficiency. In order to improve the related design, in the present work a new spiral flow field with a bypass is proposed. The reaction gas enters the flow field in the central path and diffuses in two directions through the flow channel and the bypass. The bypasses are arranged incrementally. The number of bypasses and the cross-section size of the bypasses are varied parametrically while a single-cell model of the PEMFC is used. The More > Graphic Abstract

Stefanos Tzelepis^*, Kosmas A. Kavadias

Energy Engineering, Vol.119, No.5, pp. 1745-1769, 2022, DOI:10.32604/ee.2022.020984 - 21 July 2022

Abstract

The constant increase in energy demand and related environmental issues have made fuel cells an attractive technology as an alternative to conventional energy technologies. Like any technology, fuel cells face drawbacks that scientific society has been focused on to improve and optimize the overall technology. Thus, the cost is the main inhibitor for this technology due to the significantly high cost of the materials used in catalyst layers. The current discussion mainly focuses on the fundamental electrochemical half-cell reaction of hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) that are taking place in the

More >

Mingge Wu¹, Lei Wang¹, Yixiang Wang¹, Cheng Zhang¹, Cheng Qiu^{1, 2, *}

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 431-444, 2019, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2019.08209

Abstract Water management in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is a topic of great importance for the optimization of these systems. Effective proton conductivity calls for moderate moisture content in the membrane, while uneven water distribution can lead to instability of the whole flow field, thereby decreasing the performance of the fuel cell. In the present study, a simplified two-tier hybrid structure is used to investigate the impact of the dynamic behavior of liquid water on the current density of the PEMFC. Simulation results show that water droplets attached to wall sides tend to increase More >

Li Chen, Hui-Bao Luan, Wen-Quan Tao^*

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.1, No.2, pp. 1-11, 2010, DOI:10.5098/hmt.v1.2.3002

Abstract Multi-phase lattice Boltzmann method is applied to investigate liquid water transport in th GDL and GC. The liquid water transport processes in the GDL, near the GDL-GC interfaces and in the GC are discussed. The effects of channel land on liquid water dynamic behaviors and distribution in the GDL and GC are investigated. It is found that channel land covers the GDL-GC interface where liquid water reaches changes the water distribution near the GDL-GC interface and in the GC. While channel land is apart from the GDL-GC interface where liquid water reaches changes the effects More >