Abstract
An efficient design for the bipolar plates or cell interconnects is necessary for creating the most efficient fuel cell stack possible for the desired application. This chapter analyzes bipolar plate modeling and its optimization and discusses flow field plate materials and design, channel shape, dimensions, and spacing, pressure drop in flow channels, and heat transfer from the plate channels to the gas. The flow field plates have multiple jobs, such as evenly distributing fuel and oxidant to the cells, collecting the current to power the desired devices, and evenly distributing or discarding heat and water products. The flow field design is critical for optimal fuel cell performance because it ensures even distribution of the reactants and products through the cell. Commonly used materials for flow field plates are graphite, stainless steel, aluminum, and polymer composites. The width, depth, and length of the channels in the flow field plate should be carefully considered to ensure proper flow rates, mass transfer, and pressure drop. Another consideration when designing flow field plates is the temperature of the gases in the channels. All of these factors contribute to the mass and heat transfer in the fuel cell and can be optimized through modeling.
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