Computational Flow Analysis of Bipolar Plate for Fuel Cells

Abstract

A trilayer fuel cell includes separate flow channels for hydrogen and oxygen. One potential alternative flow channel design is the use of a bipolar plate that connects cathode of a trilayer fuel cell to anode of the next trilayer fuel cell in order to provide an efficient flow of current through the cells with reduced voltage loss. The design of the bipolar plates provides considerable engineering challenges. It requires being thin with good contact surfaces for the purpose reduced electrical resistances as well as efficient transport processes for the reactant gasses in microchannels with reduced pressure drops. Fluid flow and heat and mass transport in gas flow channels play an important role in the effective performance of the fuel cell. A bipolar plate design with straight parallel channels is considered and flow field in gas flow channels are analyzed using computational fluid dynamic model. Results for pressure drop coefficient and heat transfer coefficients with varying flow Reynolds number are presented