Modeling and Simulation of Biologically Inspired Flow Field Designs for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Various biologically inspired flow field designs of the gas distributor (interconnector) have been designed and simulated. Their performance using Nafion-212 with humidified H₂ and Air at 80 °C with the ANSYS Fluent Fuel Cell module software was evaluated. Novel interdigitated designs were optimized by obeying biologically inspired branching rules. These rules allow for more mathematically formal descriptions of flow field designs, enabling relatively simple optimization. The channel to land ratio was kept equivalent between designs with typical values between 0.8 and 1.0. The pressure drop and the current density distribution were monitored for each design on both anode and cathode sides. The most promising designs are expected to exhibit lower pressure drop however, low pressure drop can also be an indication of potential water flooding at higher operating current density. A biologically inspired interdigitated design with 9 inlet channels exhibited reduced pressure drop and improved current density distribution compared to all other interdigitated designs evaluated in this study. The simulated fuel cell performance data at ambient pressure with humidified H₂ and air compares well with the experimental data using a single serpentine flow field design.