Modeling and Sizing of a Y-Shaped Laminar Flow Micro-Fluidic Fuel Cell

Abstract

The high demand for portable and desktop electronic devices requires mobile energy sources. The energy demand to supply micro-devices has been increasing in recent years. Considering the power output of the membraneless microfluidic fuel cell (MMFC), it is a suitable solution to provide the required electrical energy in small devices. The absence of electrolytes and no requirement of platinum as catalytic material are two of the most important advantages of this type of fuel cell. The current study provides detailed information about the design and characteristics of an MMFC. A complete analysis of the different channel shapes is considered in this study, with the Y-shaped channel being selected as the best option. The impact of the inclination degree for the inlet channels has been considered to evaluate the average velocity the flow acquires in the channel flow. In addition, the voltage-current behavior considering the materials, fuel/oxidant, and design characteristics has been obtained through modeling approaches.