TY - GEN
T1 - Analysis and optimization of flow distribution channels for uniform flow in fuel cells
AU - Li, Peiwen
AU - Coopamah, Devasubramaniam
AU - Dhar, Nikesh
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The paper presents the results of investigation about flow distribution and uniformity of flow fields in three types of flow distributors with novel design. The flow distributors have a number of bifurcations to split one flow into a number of sub-streams of equal flow rates on a bipolar plate which may accommodate the electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell. There are three types of bifurcation structures studied, which are the 90° tee-type, rounded-type, and slanted-type. Numerical analysis and experimental test was conducted to investigate the flow uniformity in a multiple channels that come from several stages of bifurcations. Pressure drops of the whole flow field from inlet to outlet of the bipolar plates were also studied in the numerical simulation. Overall evaluation of flow uniformity and pressure drops in the three designs was also conducted.
AB - The paper presents the results of investigation about flow distribution and uniformity of flow fields in three types of flow distributors with novel design. The flow distributors have a number of bifurcations to split one flow into a number of sub-streams of equal flow rates on a bipolar plate which may accommodate the electrochemical reaction in a fuel cell. There are three types of bifurcation structures studied, which are the 90° tee-type, rounded-type, and slanted-type. Numerical analysis and experimental test was conducted to investigate the flow uniformity in a multiple channels that come from several stages of bifurcations. Pressure drops of the whole flow field from inlet to outlet of the bipolar plates were also studied in the numerical simulation. Overall evaluation of flow uniformity and pressure drops in the three designs was also conducted.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/70349100867
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/70349100867#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1115/FEDSM2008-55180
DO - 10.1115/FEDSM2008-55180
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:70349100867
SN - 9780791848418
T3 - 2008 Proceedings of the ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Conference, FEDSM 2008
SP - 915
EP - 920
BT - 2008 Proceedings of the ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Conference, FEDSM 2008
T2 - 2008 ASME Fluids Engineering Division Summer Conference, FEDSM 2008
Y2 - 10 August 2008 through 14 August 2008
ER -