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Simulation of an innovative flow-field design based on a bio inspired pattern for PEM fuel cells

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  • Roshandel, R.
  • Arbabi, F.
  • Moghaddam, G. Karimi

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance is directly related to the bipolar plate design and their channels pattern. Power enhancements can be achieved by optimal design of the type, size, or patterns of the channels. It has been realized that the bipolar plate design has significant role on reactant transport as well as water management in a PEM Fuel cell. Present work concentrates on improvements in the fuel cell performance by optimization of flow-field design and channels configurations. A three-dimensional, multi-component numerical model of flow distribution based on Navier–Stokes equations using individual computer code is presented. The simulation results showed excellent agreement with the experimental data in the previous publications. In this paper, a new bipolar plate design inspired from the existed biological fluid flow patterns in the leaf is presented and analyzed. The main design criteria in this research are based on more uniform velocity distribution and more homogeneous molar spreading of species along the flow channels and also higher voltage and power density output in different current densities. By developing a numerical code it was found that the velocity and pressure profiles on catalyst surface are much more uniform, reactant concentration on catalyst surface is very more homogeneous and the power density is higher than parallel and serpentine flow channels up to 56% and 26% respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Roshandel, R. & Arbabi, F. & Moghaddam, G. Karimi, 2012. "Simulation of an innovative flow-field design based on a bio inspired pattern for PEM fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 86-95.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:41:y:2012:i:c:p:86-95
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2011.10.008
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    1. Yan, Wei-Mon & Wang, Xiao-Dong & Lee, Duu-Jong & Zhang, Xin-Xin & Guo, Yi-Fan & Su, Ay, 2011. "Experimental study of commercial size proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 392-396, January.
    2. Tavakoli, B. & Roshandel, R., 2011. "The effect of fuel cell operational conditions on the water content distribution in the polymer electrolyte membrane," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 3319-3331.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas, Sobi & Bates, Alex & Park, Sam & Sahu, A.K. & Lee, Sang C. & Son, Byung Rak & Kim, Joo Gon & Lee, Dong-Ha, 2016. "An experimental and simulation study of novel channel designs for open-cathode high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 765-776.
    2. Qiao, Jia Nan & Guo, Hang & Ye, Fang & Chen, Hao, 2024. "A nonlinear contraction channel design inspired by typical mathematical curves: Boosting net power and water discharge of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    3. Wilberforce, Tabbi & Olabi, A.G. & Pritchard, Daniel & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Sayed, Enas Taha, 2023. "Development of proton exchange membrane fuel cell flow plate geometry design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    4. Wilberforce, Tabbi & El Hassan, Zaki & Ogungbemi, Emmanuel & Ijaodola, O. & Khatib, F.N. & Durrant, A. & Thompson, J. & Baroutaji, A. & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "A comprehensive study of the effect of bipolar plate (BP) geometry design on the performance of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 236-260.
    5. Zhang, Yong & He, Shirong & Jiang, Xiaohui & Wang, Zhuo & Wang, Yonggang & Gu, Meng & Yang, Xi & Zhang, Shuanyang & Cao, Jing & Fang, Haoyan & Li, Qiming, 2024. "Performance and configuration optimization of proton exchange membrane fuel cell considering dual symmetric Tesla valve flow field," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    6. Zhou, Yu & Chen, Ben, 2023. "Investigation of optimization and evaluation criteria for flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Suárez, Christian & Iranzo, Alfredo & Toharias, Baltasar & Rosa, Felipe, 2022. "Experimental and numerical Investigation on the design of a bioinspired PEM fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    8. Wu, Horng-Wen, 2016. "A review of recent development: Transport and performance modeling of PEM fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 81-106.
    9. Yeh, Pulin & Chang, Chu Hsiang & Shih, Naichien & Yeh, Naichia, 2016. "Durability and efficiency tests for direct methanol fuel cell's long-term performance assessment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 716-724.
    10. Iranzo, A. & Arredondo, C.H. & Kannan, A.M. & Rosa, F., 2020. "Biomimetic flow fields for proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A review of design trends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    11. Sadiq T. Bunyan & Hayder A. Dhahad & Dhamyaa S. Khudhur & Talal Yusaf, 2023. "The Effect of Flow Field Design Parameters on the Performance of PEMFC: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-62, June.
    12. Maidhily, M. & Rajalakshmi, N. & Dhathathreyan, K.S., 2013. "Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of flow field geometry in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 79-84.
    13. Wang, Junye, 2015. "Theory and practice of flow field designs for fuel cell scaling-up: A critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 640-663.
    14. Hossein Pourrahmani & Majid Siavashi & Adel Yavarinasab & Mardit Matian & Nazanin Chitgar & Ligang Wang & Jan Van herle, 2022. "A Review on the Long-Term Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: From Degradation Modeling to the Effects of Bipolar Plates, Sealings, and Contaminants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-30, July.
    15. Zhang, Shuanyang & Liu, Shun & Xu, Hongtao & Liu, Gaojie & Wang, Ke, 2022. "Performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with honeycomb-like flow channel design," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    16. Wang, Yulin & Guan, Chao & Li, Hua & Zhao, Yulong & Wang, Cheng & He, Wei, 2023. "Flow field configuration design for a large-scale hydrogen polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    17. Li, Hong-Wei & Liu, Jun-Nan & Yang, Yue & Fan, Wenxuan & Lu, Guo-Long, 2022. "Research on mass transport characteristics and net power performance under different flow channel streamlined imitated water-drop block arrangements for proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).

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