Investigation of bifurcation structure flow field for bipolar plates in PEMFC

Uniform flow field in fuel cells is important to the performance. Even distribution of reactant gases over the electrode surfaces is a key to the good performance of fuel cells since this enables them to operate as close as possible to maximum capability and electrochemical reactions. In this paper, the bifurcation principle can be used to design the flow field structure for bipolar plate in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). It is demonstrated by numerical simulation that branch flow field structure can provide substantially flow-field distribution, current density and heat transfer when compared to the traditional structure. Then a kind of excellent flow field structure for bipolar plate in PEMFC can be achieved.