Microfluidic Fuel Cell with Multiple Inlets of a Wide-Bridge Shaped Microchannel

초록

A multiple-inlet configuration for a microfluidic fuel cell with a narrow-bridge shaped microchannel cross section is investigated. The microfluidic fuel cell operation is interplay of various mass transport and electrochemical processes. A three-dimensional numerical model is developed to evaluate the performance of the microfluidic fuel cell. The numerical model is fully-coupled and solves Navier-Stokes equations, mass transport equations, and Butler-Volmer equations. Inlets located at the center of microchannel and multiple inlets with narrow-bridge shaped microchannel cross section are investigated to decrease the mass transport losses occurring in the microchannel with larger channel length. At most 8 inlets are investigated with narrow-bridge shaped cross section to evaluate the peak current and power densities. The configuration with multiple inlets increases the current density by manifold times when compared with a microfluidic fuel cell with bi-inlet configuration.