Numerical Study and Optimization of a Bionic Leaf Vein‐Inspired Flow Field for Enhanced Oxygen Expulsion in Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolysis Cell

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a biomimetic leaf vein‐inspired flow field to enhance oxygen expulsion efficiency in proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells (PEMECs). Traditional flow fields face limitations in achieving uniform reactant distribution and efficient product removal, which significantly impact overall system performance. By combining computational fluid dynamics (CMD) simulation and experimental validation, this study evaluates the influence of critical geometric parameters—channel width, branch angle, and branch number on flow field performance. The numerical results reveal that gas volume fraction serves as an effective metric for evaluating oxygen discharge efficiency, with optimal performance achieved using a configuration of a 1 mm channel width, a 30 ° inclination angle and two branches. Visualization experiments demonstrate that the downstream configuration significantly outperforms the upstream configuration in performance by enhancing synergistic effects between channels. The downstream strategy promotes faster oxygen transport and more uniform distribution, effectively suppressing slug flow formation and thereby improving overall bubble removal efficiency.