Open Access

ARTICLE

Lattice Boltzmann Method Simulation of 3D Fluid Flow in Serpentine Channel

by Shih-Kai Chien¹, Tzu-Hsiang Yen¹, Yue-Tzu Yang¹, Chao-Kuang Chen¹

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
2 Corresponding author. Tel.: +886-6-2757575 ext. 62140; Fax: +886-6-2342081 E-mail: ckchen@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2008, 29(3), 163-174. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2008.029.163

Abstract

Conventional proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have a straight gas flow serpentine channel, and hence the reactant gases are transferred to the catalyst layers as a result of diffusion alone. Since the diffusion process is inherently slow, the electrical performance of such PEMFCs is inevitably limited. In an attempt to improve the PEMFC performance, this study replaces the straight channel with containing different type of obstacles and conducts a series of lattice Boltzmann method simulations to investigate the flow field phenomena induced in a viscous liquid as it flows along the serpentine channel at Reynolds numbers ranging from Re=5~25. The simulations consider three different channel configurations, namely an empty channel with planar walls, a channel containing 10 rectangular obstacles, and a channel containing 10 semicircular obstacles. The numerical results show that the obstacles enhance the vertical velocity component of the flow and prompt the formation of recirculation regions immediately downstream of each obstacle. Both phenomena are beneficial in improving the performance of the PEMFC. Specifically, the velocity perturbations in the vertical direction increase the flow of the reactant gas into the gas diffusion layer and therefore improve the catalytic reaction performance, while the recirculation flow structures assist in the removal of the water byproduct from the cathode channel and therefore reduce the accumulation of water within the cathode channel.

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