Comprehensive Design Strategy for Low-Temperature Fuel Cells—Optimizing Flow Fields, Bipolar Plates and Volumetric Efficiency for Enhanced Performance.

Fuel cells need an effective and uniform fuel supply for optimal performance. Variations in channel size, pattern, and fuel injection rates can affect gas transport in the flow field. Complex channel designs intended to ensure even gas distribution can cause turbulence, leading to pressure drops and uneven reactions, thus reducing efficiency. Therefore, designing optimized flow fields that ensure smooth fuel delivery by considering channel dimensions, gas velocity, and transport mechanisms is crucial. On the other hand, optimizing flow channel design alone isn't enough to enhance single cell fuel performance. Achieving maximum power output requires addressing the volumetric efficiency of the cell. The bipolar plate is the thickest component due to its flow fields for fuel supply, and both play critical roles. Therefore, a design method reducing the fuel cell's overall volume while retaining these functions is essential. The flow fields in the bipolar plates create volumetric challenges, making it necessary to develop integrated strategies that optimize flow distribution and compactness.
We propose a comprehensive design method for low-temperature fuel cells, covering individual components, single cells, and stack configurations. The main goal is to enhance system efficiency by optimizing bipolar plate and flow field designs compared to the traditional serpentine flow field. Our approach includes three strategies: simulating laminar flow in channels using Reynolds and Peclet numbers for anode and cathode regions; creating a structural model that reduces single cell volume with symmetrical anode and cathode plates; and improving stack performance through optimal manifold designs. Optimizing flow field designs, integrating structures to minimize volume, and improving manifold designs are key aspects of our approach to enhancing low-temperature fuel cell performance. This comprehensive strategy not only optimizes individual components but also ensures efficient system-level operation, which will be detailed at the conference.