Design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field with porous material embedded in the ribs and experimental study on performance under multiple operating conditions

WANG Wuyue; HUANG Zongming; LI Menghan; LIU Xinjian; LIU Xiaori; RAO Zhonghao

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1178

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Design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field with porous material embedded in the ribs and experimental study on performance under multiple operating conditions

Energy Storage Materials and Devices | 更新时间：2026-07-13

- Design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field with porous material embedded in the ribs and experimental study on performance under multiple operating conditions
- Energy Storage Science and Technology Vol. 15, Issue 6, Pages: 2118-2129(2026)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.河北工业大学能源与环境工程学院，先进储能技术与装备河北省工程研究中心，天津 300401
  2.北京汽车研究总院有限公司，北京 101300
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1178
  CLC： TK 91
- Received：31 December 2025，
  
  Revised：2026-03-06，
  
  Published：28 June 2026
- 稿件说明：
移动端阅览
王五月, 黄宗明, 李孟涵, 等. 肋部嵌有多孔材料的PEMFC流场设计及多工况实验[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(6): 2118-2129.

WANG Wuyue, HUANG Zongming, LI Menghan, et al. Design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field with porous material embedded in the ribs and experimental study on performance under multiple operating conditions[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(6): 2118-2129.
王五月, 黄宗明, 李孟涵, 等. 肋部嵌有多孔材料的PEMFC流场设计及多工况实验[J]. 储能科学与技术, 2026, 15(6): 2118-2129. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1178.

WANG Wuyue, HUANG Zongming, LI Menghan, et al. Design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow field with porous material embedded in the ribs and experimental study on performance under multiple operating conditions[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2026, 15(6): 2118-2129. DOI： 10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2025.1178.

摘要

针对质子交换膜燃料电池常规流场存在的肋下传质困难、液态水易积聚等问题，本研究提出了一种在流场肋部嵌入多孔材料的结构优化方法，系统研究了该设计对电池输出性能的影响。实验采用蛇形流场（SFF）和平行流场（PFF）的单电池，在阴极流场肋部嵌入泡沫镍基碳多孔材料（孔隙率为0.9，孔密度为110 ppi，1 ppi=0.3937孔/cm），通过恒电压模式测试了不同工况下的电流密度、功率密度及流场压降，并分析了进入空气湿度（0%~100%相对湿度）和背压（100~200 kPa）对电池性能的影响机制。结果表明，肋部嵌入多孔材料可显著改善肋下传质性能并强化排水能力，在低电压工况下性能提升尤为明显；与基础流场相比，肋部嵌有多孔材料平行流场（RPPFF）的电流密度和功率密度分别提高22.1%和24.1%，肋部嵌有多孔材料蛇形流场（RPSFF）电流密度和功率密度分别提高13.8%和15.8%。进入空气相对湿度从0%增至70%时，RPPFF和RPSFF的功率密度分别提升9.8%和7.8%，继续增湿至100%时性能无明显变化。背压从100 kPa提升至150 kPa可使RPPFF和RPSFF的电流密度分别提升7.1%和5.8%，但过高背压（200 kPa）会抑制高电流密度工况下的液态水排出，导致输出功率下降。此外，肋部多孔材料的引入降低了流场压降，使功率转化效率（PCE）提升42%（RPPFF）和74.4%（RPSFF）。本研究为质子交换膜燃料电池流场结构优化提供了有效的实验依据和技术参考。

Abstract

This study addresses the issues of poor mass transfer and liquid water accumulation under the ribs in conventional flow fields of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A structural optimization method is proposed by embedding porous materials into the rib regions. The impact of this design on cell output performance was investigated. Single cells with serpentine flow field (SFF) and parallel flow field (PFF) were tested using nickel foam-based carbon porous materials (0.9 porosity

110 ppi pore density) embedded in the cathode rib regions. The current density

power density

and flow field pressure drop were measured under constant voltage mode. The influence mechanisms of air inlet humidity (0%—100% RH) and back pressure (100—200 kPa) on cell performance were analyzed. The findings indicate that the incorporation of porous materials within the ribs significantly enhances under-rib mass transfer and augments water drainage capacity. This is particularly evident under low-voltage conditions. A comparison of baseline flow fields with the current density and power density of rib-embedded PFF (RPPFF) reveals an increase of 22.1% and 24.1%

respectively. Similarly

the current density and power density of rib-embedded SFF (RPSFF) increased by 13.8% and 15.8%

respectively. As the relative humidity increased from 0% to 70%

power densities of RPPFF and RPSFF exhibited enhancements of 9.8% and 7.8%

respectively

with minimal alterations observed at 100% RH. An increase in back pressure from 100 to 150 kPa resulted in enhancements of 7.1% and 5.8% in the power densities of RPPFF and RPSFF

respectively. However

at back pressures exceeding 200 kPa

the suppression of liquid water removal at high current densities led to a reduction in output power. Furthermore

the incorporation of rib-embedded porous materials led to a substantial reduction in flow field pressure drop

resulting in a notable enhancement in power conversion efficiency by 42% for RPPFF and 74.4% for RPSFF. This study offers compelling experimental evidence and technical references for flow field structural optimization in PEMFCs.

关键词

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references

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