Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks

The enhancement of the flow channel design of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is imperative for the improvement of mass transport and overall performance. This study introduces novel asymmetric gas channel cross-sectional profiles, validated through a tripartite approach encompassin...

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Main Authors: Nima Ahmadi, Ghader Rezazadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25007051
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author Nima Ahmadi
Ghader Rezazadeh
author_facet Nima Ahmadi
Ghader Rezazadeh
author_sort Nima Ahmadi
collection DOAJ
description The enhancement of the flow channel design of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is imperative for the improvement of mass transport and overall performance. This study introduces novel asymmetric gas channel cross-sectional profiles, validated through a tripartite approach encompassing analytical modeling, numerical simulations, and experimental testing. The proposed profiles are subjected to analytical examination through the implementation of a combination of the regular perturbation method and the Galerkin approach to efficiently solve nonlinear governing equations. Four innovative designs (c1 to c4) are evaluated, and the results consistently demonstrate that the c3 configuration with a cross-section parameter ε = 0.5 achieves superior performance by optimizing species transport and reducing concentration losses. Experimental validation confirms a current density improvement of up to 5.6 % over conventional designs, while Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven optimization via a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network and Genetic Algorithm independently identifies the same optimal configuration. The preponderance of evidence from analytical, numerical, experimental, and AI-driven methods corroborates the efficacy of the proposed design as a resilient and expandable solution for enhancing PEMFC efficiency.
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spelling doaj-art-fb8f8a8d6b8b454cbacd46ba2954d7c32025-08-20T02:33:55ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-09-017310644510.1016/j.csite.2025.106445Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworksNima Ahmadi0Ghader Rezazadeh1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technical and Vocational University (TVU), Tehran, Iran; Corresponding author.Center for Materials Technologies, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia; Mechanical Engineering Department, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran; Corresponding author. Center for Materials Technologies, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, Russia.The enhancement of the flow channel design of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is imperative for the improvement of mass transport and overall performance. This study introduces novel asymmetric gas channel cross-sectional profiles, validated through a tripartite approach encompassing analytical modeling, numerical simulations, and experimental testing. The proposed profiles are subjected to analytical examination through the implementation of a combination of the regular perturbation method and the Galerkin approach to efficiently solve nonlinear governing equations. Four innovative designs (c1 to c4) are evaluated, and the results consistently demonstrate that the c3 configuration with a cross-section parameter ε = 0.5 achieves superior performance by optimizing species transport and reducing concentration losses. Experimental validation confirms a current density improvement of up to 5.6 % over conventional designs, while Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven optimization via a hybrid Convolutional Neural Network and Genetic Algorithm independently identifies the same optimal configuration. The preponderance of evidence from analytical, numerical, experimental, and AI-driven methods corroborates the efficacy of the proposed design as a resilient and expandable solution for enhancing PEMFC efficiency.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25007051EnergyPEMFCGalerkin methodTransport phenomenaArtificial intelligence
spellingShingle Nima Ahmadi
Ghader Rezazadeh
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Energy
PEMFC
Galerkin method
Transport phenomena
Artificial intelligence
title Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
title_full Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
title_fullStr Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
title_full_unstemmed Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
title_short Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance Revolutionized: Artificial intelligence-validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical-numerical frameworks
title_sort polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance revolutionized artificial intelligence validated asymmetric flow channels enhance mass transport via hybrid analytical numerical frameworks
topic Energy
PEMFC
Galerkin method
Transport phenomena
Artificial intelligence
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25007051
work_keys_str_mv AT nimaahmadi polymerelectrolytemembranefuelcellperformancerevolutionizedartificialintelligencevalidatedasymmetricflowchannelsenhancemasstransportviahybridanalyticalnumericalframeworks
AT ghaderrezazadeh polymerelectrolytemembranefuelcellperformancerevolutionizedartificialintelligencevalidatedasymmetricflowchannelsenhancemasstransportviahybridanalyticalnumericalframeworks