Effect of obstacle arrangement and depth in parallel flow fields on the performance of PEMFC

To improve the problems of uneven oxygen distribution in the parallel flow field and water accumulation in the center of the pole plate, this paper divides the flow field into three parts, designs different types of schemes with the arrangement and depth of obstacles, and analyzes the water-oxygen distribution, velocity distribution, and output power on the cathode side using numerical simulation. It is found that when the obstacles are arranged in the third part, the uniformity of velocity and oxygen concentration is enhanced the most and its drainage capacity is the best; when the depth of obstacles is studied, it is found that with the increase of depth, the maximum power density increases and then decreases, but the pressure drop will continue to rise, and when the depth is 0.6 mm, the maximum net power density can be obtained. Therefore, the use of suitable obstacle arrangement and depth in the flow field can enhance cell performance and improve the uniformity of oxygen and water distribution.