Hydrodynamics and Current Distribution Analysis of Bipolar Plates for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

Abstract

The aim of this paper is obtaining a 3D model for designing bipolar plates by simulating fuel cell behavior with different flow field configuration and thus improving the performance of a direct ethanol fuel cell by modeling different flow fields using a 3D representation. Experimental results presented here were obtaining with hydrogen fuel cells as a first approach of modeling. Results show that activation zone is not well simulated. Flow fields better performance is obtaining with a width ratio of .Current and flow distribution shows that deeper channels had better performance in serpentine flow field.

Multiscale modeling for Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells

“…This technology represents one of the most promising ways to obtain sustainable energy, owing to efficient conversion of hydrogen, and possibly other fuels, into electricity. Fuel cells open the way to integrated "open energy systems" that simultaneously address all of the major energy and environmental challenges, and have the flexibility to adapt to the diverse and intermittent renewable energy source [1].…”

“…In particular, usage of ethanol in fuel cells is attractive because it can be easily handled, has a low toxicity profile and can be produced in different countries from their agricultural products; as a result, research into Direct Ethanol Fuel Cells (DEFCs) is a fundamental topic for alternative energy sources [2]. To date, different features of these devices have been investigated, such as the suitable electrolytic membrane, the appropriate anodic and cathodic electrocatalysts, and flow field designs [1][2][3] Modeling and simulation have been used extensively in the past two decades to investigate the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells [3][4][5][6][7]. The sheer complexity of PEM fuel cell operation continues to drive the development of increasingly sophisticated approaches, also made possible by the widespread availability of high-performance computing resources.…”