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Experimental and Computational Evaluation of Serpentine, Parallel, and Pin-Type Flow Fields in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

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Abstract:

The design of flow field geometry plays a crucial role in determining the performance and efficiency of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC), particularly in optimizing hydrogen distribution and minimizing pressure losses. This study presents a comprehensive comparative evaluation of three flow field configurations of serpentine, parallel, and pin-type using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental validation under identical boundary conditions. The flow behavior, pressure, and hydrogen distribution were numerically analyzed, while voltage retention time was measured experimentally to assess fuel cell performance. Results indicate that the serpentine configuration achieved the highest uniformity index (UI = 0.92), due to its continuous and tortuous flow path, which promoted complete hydrogen coverage and minimized stagnation zones. The parallel and pin-type configurations exhibited lower UI values (0.75 and 0.83) and non-uniform gas distribution, leading to early voltage decay. Experimentally, the serpentine flow field sustained a voltage above 0.2 V for 3.00 minutes, significantly longer than the parallel (1.00 minute) and pin-type (0.43 minute) designs. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA confirmed the significance of these differences (p < 0.001). The strong correlation between simulation and experimental findings reinforces the importance of flow field optimization in PEMFC systems. This study highlights the superiority of the serpentine configuration in enhancing hydrogen utilization and operational stability, offering validated insights for developing high-performance PEMFCs in future hydrogen energy applications.

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Periodical:

Engineering Headway (Volume 38)

Pages:

115-127

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4028/p-aT93LY

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Online since:

June 2026

Authors:

Yepy Komaril Sofi‘i*, Achmad Fauzan Hery Soegiharto, Mulyono Mulyono, Roro Heni Hendaryati, Sahal Nidaul Niam, Willy Satrio Nugroho

Keywords:

Flow Field Geometry, Hydrogen Distribution, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), Serpentine, Uniformity Index

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© 2026 Trans Tech Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved

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* - Corresponding Author

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