质子交换膜燃料电池具有能量密度高、容易启动、寿命长等优点，是低温燃料电池中最有发展潜力的一种燃料电池。水管理是质子交换膜燃料电池的关键技术，水管理的好坏直接影响到电池的效率、发电功率以及运行成本。本项目通过模拟植物水分传输功能，运用仿生学原理研究探讨一种全新的质子交换膜燃料电池排水方法，首先，研究植物水分传输机理以及植物水分传输与质子交换膜燃料电池排水之间的映射关系；其次，研究如何模仿植物水分传输机理来对质子交换膜燃料电池的排水系统进行仿生设计。然后，建立包括燃料电池阴极／阳极侧流道和气体扩散层、催化层以及质子交换膜在内的完整的三维、两相、非等温数学模型，并设计可视化实验进行验证。最终，建立基于仿生学原理的质子交换膜燃料电池排水系统的仿生设计理论体系，为质子交换膜燃料电池的水管理提供一条新途径。本项目的成果可广泛应用于新一代电动汽车动力电源、便携式小型电源、家庭用热电联供系统等。

With the merits of high energy density, fast start-up, longevity, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is the most prospective one among low-temperature fuel cells. Water management has a major impact on the PEMFC in the areas of overall system power, cost and efficiency. This project simulates water transport mechanism in plant and employs the biomimetic analogy principle to investigate a new water removal approach for PEMFC. First, the project will study what is the mechanism of water transport in plant and the relations between water transport in plant and water removal in PEMFC. Next, the project will study how to design the biomimetic structure for water removal in PEMFC. Then, a three-dimensional, non-isothermal, gas-liquid two-phase flow and transport mathematic model will be developed. And a visualization experiment will be designed to study the water and gas transport characteristics in PEMFC. Eventually, the theoretical system of water removal design, based on the principle of biomimetic analogy, in PEMFC is to be established, which will provide a new way for the water management in PEMFC. The results of this project can be widely used as promising power sources for the new generation of electric vehicles, distributed power generation, portable electronic equipment, household stationary cogeneration application and so on.