Use of fractals to improve a proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance

Abstract

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.