Flow Simulation with CFD-ACE+ improves the robustness of Fuel Cell Design


Simulation has helped us significantly increase the efficiency and life of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by reducing variations in flow between the individual cells, and within individual cells,
Challenge
- Improving the efficiency and life of a fuel cell
- Understanding the complex flow inside the tiny individual cells
Story
Fuel cells represent one of the most important automotive design challenges of the 21st century because of their potential to eliminate dependence on fossil fuel sources and to eliminate carbon emissions that are theorized to be responsible for global warming. Yet fuel cells provide enormous design challenges, primarily increasing their power and robustness while reducing their cost to levels that will make them competitive with internal combustion engines. Flow simulation is playing a major role in this process by enabling engineers to understand and visualize the complex flow within with the fuel cell which plays a critical role in its performance.

Flow Simulation with CFD-ACE+ improves the robustness of Fuel Cell Design.
Benefits
- Increase power generation efficiency
- Increase in life of cell
- Engineering time savings