Effect of the chicane installed in the flow channel on the reactants consumption in a protons exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)

To study the mass transfer phenomena in the different parts of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, a three-dimensional, non- isothermal, single-phase and unsteady model of a PEMFC with straight flow field channels has been developed in this work. The governing equations are resolved using the finite volume method. The effects of the baffle plate and obstacle installation in the canal flow on the reactants transport and consumption in a PEMFC are studied. The results prove that the transversal installation of a baffle plate, or an obstacle, in the channel flow can effectively increase the local consumption of reactants. Moreover, the effect of the obstacle on the total consumption of the reactants is more obvious than the baffle’s one