The dependence on fossil fuels as an energy source causes serious environmental problems. Direct ethanol proton exchange membrane fuel cells (DE-PEMFCs) that directly convert the chemical energy stored in the etanol alcohol into electricity makes it promising as an environment-friendly power source for portable and mobile applications. Increasing the reagent operating temperature increases the electrochemical kinetics at the anode, increasing the cell power. However in a DE-PEMFC, the flow field plate directly interferes at the heat flow. As a result, the aim of this research were project a new parallel serpentine flow field plate with interdigitated characteristics, a parallel serpentine-baffle flow field plate (PSBFFP) and comparing with a PSFFP with respect to heat transfer performance in a DE-PEMFC anode side. The results show that the discontinue channels presents in the PSBFFP improve the heat transfer between plate and reagent, improving the reaction rate and consequently the fuel cell performance.

Abstract:One of the most important and effective hardware elements for improvement of efficiency and power density of proton exchange membrane fuel cells is the flow field plate. The design and the pattern of the flow field plate have a considerable effect on the effectiveness of mass transport as well as on the electrochemical reactions inside the cell. The configuration of the flow field plate aims at ensuring a low pressure-drop over all channels in the stack. In this work, a FPFFP (fractal parallel flow field plate), with bio-inspired configuration by insertion of fractals in a classic PFFP (parallel flow field plate), is proposed, increasing the flow area of the hydrogen at anode side without increasing the section's area of the flow field plate. By simulating was observed that, the use of channels in fractal shape can increase the hydrogen flow area without occuring pressure loss in the cell. The fluid dynamic behavior in the FPFFP at smaller scales was replicated in the same plate, with better advantage of the active area of the electrode. Increasing the hydrogen flow area without causing pressure loss could be a good tactic to increase the power density of fuel cells, and consequently improving the cell performance.

Abstract.One of the most important and effective elements in the improvement of efficiency and power density of proton Exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are the flow field plates. The flow field plate design and its pattern considerably affect the effectiveness of mass transport as well as electrochemical reactions inside the cell. A goal of the flow field plate configuration is to ensure a low pressure drop over all the channels in a cell or over all the cells in a stack. As a result, the aim of this research was use biological inspiration to improve the anode flow hydrogen area without improve the pressure loss in a parallel flow field plate (PFFP), by inserting fractals in a classic PFFP design. The results showed that, fractals can increase the hydrogen flow area without improve the pressure loss and repeat the PFFP fluid dynamic behavior at smaller scales in the same plate.