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

Authors

  • P. Barbieri Author
  • G. Benetti Author
  • E. Mathias Author
  • M. Klein Author
  • J. Bottin Author
  • M. M. Forte Author
  • P. M. Belchor Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24084/repqj13.235

Keywords:

Fuel cells, flow field design, fractals

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.

Author Biographies

  • P. Barbieri

    ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

  • G. Benetti

    ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

  • E. Mathias

    1 ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

  • M. Klein

    ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

  • J. Bottin

    ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

  • M. M. Forte

    LaPol, UFRGS

    Campus do Vale – Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Set. 4, Pr. 74, Porto Alegre (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 51 33089417, e-mail: mmcforte@ufrgs.br

  • P. M. Belchor

    ACET, UNOESC

    Campus II of Joaçaba – Rua José Firmo Bernardi, Joaçaba (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 49 35512000

    2 LaPol, UFRGS

    Campus do Vale – Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Set. 4, Pr. 74, Porto Alegre (Brazil)

    Phone/Fax number:+0055 51 33089417

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Published

2024-01-12

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Articles