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Abstract

This study reports the finding of a fuel cell using a ramification flow field design inspired from the biological system far more efficient in uniformly distributing species. Various flow stoi-chiometries and relative humidities of the cathode inlet gas to the ramification flow field in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell were investigated. The voltage range, in this study, was within the mass transport region of the polarization curve (<0.55 V). The PEM fuel cell was made of transparent material to allow the flow visualization. It was observed that, at high humidified conditions, cyclic flooding and unstable performance occurred, whereas the performance can be stabilized by increasing the cathode gas stoichiometry. Furthermore, compared with a serpentine flow field design, the ability to retain water in the ramification flow field was improved when the cell was operated at low humidity or even at dry inlet gas conditions.

Keywords

polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell humidity flow field stability

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Experimental investigation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells with ramification flow fields

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