The water motion in a simplified serpentine channel is investigated to study the dynamic water behavior in the serpentine channel in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The effects of corner shapes, the number of water inlet pores, the air inlet velocity and the water inlet velocity on the removal of water are discussed. Results show that the water drains out more quickly in a channel with a round corner than in a channel with a sharp corner. A channel with hydrophobic walls has both a higher water removal frequency and higher water coverage on the bottom wall than does a channel with hydrophilic walls. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.