Numerical Simulation of a Novel Bipolar Plate Flow Field of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract:

This paper proposes a novel bipolar plate flow field of PEMFC with the intersectant microstructure. Numerical simulation about both the flow velocity distribution and the pressure distribution for the reactive gas were accomplished according to the model building by Pro/E, grid meshing and boundary condition specifying by Fluent. Compared to traditional serpentine flow fields, the gas pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of this novel flow field is appropriate to promptly discharge the water produced during the operation of the PEMFC, and the flow velocity of the reactive gas among all the flow field is well-distributed, which assures reactions occurring uniformly in the flow field under the bipolar plate. All the properties of this novel flow field make a great sense to improve the integrated performance of the PEMFC.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 215)
• Pages: 19-24
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.215.19
• Online since: March 2011
• Authors: Chong Da Lu, Peng Fei Gao, Wei Fang Wang, Dong Hui Wen
• Keywords: Flow Field, Numerical Simulation, PEMFC

References

[1] Z.J. Huang: Application of the fuel cell [M]. Electronic industry publication, (2005).

[2] Watkins D. S: Novel fuel cell fluid flow field plate. U.S. Patent No. 5. 108. 849. (1992).

[3] Watkins D. S: Novel fuel cell fluid flow field plate, U. S Patent No. 4. 988. 583. (1991).

[4] Ke Wang: Study on the flow field of the bipolar plates in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, (2007).

[5] Wolf Vielstich and Arnold Lamm: Handbook of Fuel Cells—Fundamentals Technology and Applications. 2003, Vol. 3, pp.286-293.

[6] Z.Z. Han: Computational examples and application of the flow project. Beijing Institute of Technology publication, (2004).