A COMPARISON OF BIOMIMETIC DESIGN AND TRIZ APPLIED TO THE DESIGN OF A PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELL
The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is an attractive energy conversion device that can provide efficient and clean electrical energy. However, limitations in water management can deleteriously affect its conversion efficiency. Overcoming this technological challenge is essential. In this paper, two design methodologies, biomimetic design and TRIZ, were used to find potential solutions to this water management problem. Each design method produced two potential solutions. We found biomimetic design to have more potential for bias by the designer’s prior knowledge of biology. This bias can serve to either hinder or help the design process. A notable finding is that biomimetic design and TRIZ can be considered mutually inclusive in the potential solutions generated in this study. This suggests that either design method could have been used to produce the same solutions.