Influence of bio-inspired flow channel designs on the performance of a PEM fuel cell

Publication date: Available online 31 July 2019Source: Chinese Journal of Chemical EngineeringAuthor(s): Srinivasa Reddy Badduri, G. Naga Srinivasulu, S. Srinivasa RaoAbstractPerformance of the Proton exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is appreciably affected by the channel geometry. The branching structure of a plant leaf and human lung have efficient network to distribute the nutrients in the respective systems. The same nutrient transport system can be mimicked in the flow channel design of a PEMFC, to aid even reactant distribution and better water management. In this work, the effect of bio-inspired flow field designs such as lung and leaf channel design bipolar plates, on the performance of a PEMFC was examined experimentally at various operating conditions. A PEMFC of 49 cm2 area, with Nafion 212 membrane with 40% catalyst loading of 0.4 mg/cm2 on anode side and also 0.6 mg/cm2 on cathode side is assembled by incorporating the bio-inspired channel bipolar plate, and was tested on a programmable fuel-cell test station. The impact of the working parameters like reactants relative humidity (RH), back pressure and fuel cell temperature on the performance of the fuel cell was examined; the operating pressure remains constant was set as 1 bar. It was observed that the best performance was attained at back pressure of 3 bar, 75 °C operating temperature and 100% RH. The three flow channels were also comparing at different operating pressures ranging from 1 bar ...
Source: Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research