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The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a particularly promising energy conversion device for use in stationary or vehicular applications. PEMFCs provide high efficiency and power density, with zero emissions, low operating temperatures, quick start-up, and long lifetime. While the usage of PEMFCs has been on the increase, their commercialization has been hindered by technical issues such as water flooding in their cathodes. Flow field optimization is one approach to mitigating these issues, as the geometry of the flow channels within a PEMFC influences reactant transport, water management, and reactant utilization efficiency, and thus the final performance of a PEMFC system. This paper looks at some of the recent research that has been focused on modeling PEMFCs, exploring phenomena in them, and improving their performance, especially through flow field optimization. This paper shows how such modeling can provide useful information for PEMFC optimization, and, based on the research reviewed, presents recommendations that can be implemented in optimizing the design of a PEMFC bipolar for maximum performance. Among more traditional designs, the reviewed research shows that a serpentine flow field with small channel and rib size would perform the best at low operating voltages, and could be further improved by utilizing diverging channels with varying heights. Furthermore, additions such as baffles have been shown to improve the performance of various flow channel designs.

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Modern universities thrive on the information gathered through well-managed information systems. The overall process of developing and maintaining Academic Information System (AIS) all within the university and without any external assistance is generally regarded as a mark of achievement. This chapter deals with various aspects of AIS such as requirements, development, testing, overall security, etc. Two major options, developing AIS from scratch and deploying a commercially available software solution, are discussed. Typical management strategies are suggested to combat possible resistance from users and to serve a wider-ranging user community in an effective manner. A strong case is made in favor of in-house development of AISs to reduce initial costs and maintenance expenditure. Importantly, the process of design, developing a functional prototype, and overall security aspects are presented in detail. Several recommendations are made to deal with various operational challenges through well-known practices.

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