The　performance　degradation　of　proton　exchange　membrane　(PEM)　fuel　cells　is　inevitable　in　real-time　application.　In　particular,　water　management　issues　are　related　to　the　optimization　design　and　the　stable　operation　of　the　fuel　cell　system.　The　investigation　of　the　mass　transportation　of　an　open-cathode　PEM　fuel　cell　based　on　a　three-dimensional　numerical　model　is　emulated　using　computational　fluid　mechanics　(CFD).　The　unified　finite　element　analysis　for　the　coupled　phenomena　of　the　charge　transport,　mass　transport,　and　electrochemical　reactions　is　discussed　in　this　work.　The　simulation　results　are　observed　and　compared　with　other　experimental　observations　and　various　physical　fields　have　shown　uneven　distributed　inside　of　the　fuel　cell　due　to　the　single-direction　gases　transfer　strategy.　Therefore,　in　this　study,　a　strategy　based　on　interchangeable　anode　inlet　and　outlet　is　proposed　to　alleviate　the　uneven　distribution　of　internal　physical　fields.　Moreover,　the　optimized　periods　of　inlet　and　outlet　exchange　are　studied　by　comparing　the　experimental　results.　©　2020　Elsevier　Ltd