Experimental analysis of PEM fuel cell performance using lung channel design bipolar plate

Performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is appreciably improved by flow-field geometry. In recent literature, it has been observed that naturally inspired flow channel designs enhance the fuel-cell performance. The relevant examples are plant leaves and human lung structure. The high performance of these designs is uniform reactant distribution and better water management. In this study, the lung channel geometry of bipolar plate is used in the fuel cell for the supply of reactants. A fuel cell of 49 cm(2) area with Nafion-117 membrane is assembled by incorporating the lung channel bipolar plate and tested on the programmable fuel-cell test station. The influence of various operating parameters like temperature, pressure, anode (A), and cathode (K) humidification temperatures and the back pressure on the performance of fuel cell is analyzed experimentally. From these experimental results, it is observed that the fuel-cell generates 25.62?W at 42.7 A current when it is operated at a temperature of 60?C, 1-bar pressure, A and K humidification temperatures are at 60?C and 50?C, respectively. The experimental results of lung channel are compared with that of triple serpentine flow channel. The fuel cell with lung channel generates around 34% more power than triple serpentine flow field.