Masters Theses
Abstract
"Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are promising clean energy devices. The flow field design has crucial role in PEMFC performance for effective distribution of reactants and removal of products. Several nature-inspired flow field designs have recently been proposed in the literature. Common characteristics of these designs were sudden changes in the flow direction through sharp bends and flow field geometries restrained to areas having corners. In this thesis, Fibonacci spiral configuration, which is found in the nature from hurricanes to seashells, was considered for flow field pattern of a PEMFC. Contrary to the bio-inspired designs proposed in previous studies, continuous smooth change in the flow direction through curved spiral channel and flow field geometry restrained to the rounded area was attained. Computational studies for the PEMFC performance with Fibonacci spiral flow channel were conducted by solving the governing electrochemical equations using the Ansys Fluent software. In addition to the Fibonacci spiral geometry, a novel rectangular spiral design and the conventional parallel design were also simulated for performance comparisons. Polarization, power density, and fuel cell power output per required compressor power curves were computed in addition to distribution contours of pressure, velocity, reactant concentrations, and water mass fractions for all three flow field designs. Fibonacci spiral design exhibited uniform reactant distribution, improved water management, and extremely low-pressure drop compared to the rectangular spiral and conventional parallel designs"--Abstract, page iii.
Advisor(s)
Köylü, Ümit Ö. (Ümit Özgür)
Committee Member(s)
Homan, Kelly
Leu, M. C. (Ming-Chuan)
Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Degree Name
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor(s)
Ministry of National Education of Turkey
Publisher
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Publication Date
Summer 2018
Pagination
vii, 45 pages
Note about bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 42-44).
Rights
© 2018 Suleyman Kose, All rights reserved.
Document Type
Thesis - Open Access
File Type
text
Language
English
Thesis Number
T 11381
Electronic OCLC #
1051221327
Recommended Citation
Kose, Suleyman, "Computational investigation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell with nature-inspired Fibonacci spiral flow field" (2018). Masters Theses. 7800.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/7800
