Numerical Investigation of the Developed Bio-inspired Flow Field on PEMFC Performance

The branching structures observed in nature, exemplified by phenomena like the intricate patterns of tree leaves and the complex network of animal lungs, are both widespread and distinctive. Interestingly, the mass and heat transfer characteristics of bipolar plates in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) share similarities with these natural systems. In this research, an enhanced bio-inspired flow field design is introduced, and its impact on PEMFC performance is analyzed through numerical simulations. A three-dimensional PEMFC model with a bio-inspired flow field design, featuring an active area measuring 7.1 × 7.1 cm, has been created. These newly developed bio-inspired flow fields (BFFs) were compared with Conventional parallel flow fields (CPFFs). The results revealed several advantages of the bio-inspired flow field over CPFF, including uniform distribution of reactants, less pressure drop, and improved power output. Notably, the net power density of the bio-inspired flow field was approximately 45.07% more than that of the parallel flow field. As a result, the bio-inspired flow field achieved improved uniformity in reactant distribution, reduced pressure drop, and enhanced hydrothermal management capabilities.