Effect of nonuniformity of the contact pressure distribution on the electrical contact resistance in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 6039-6044 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Zhou ◽  
P. Lin ◽  
C.W. Wu ◽  
Z. Li
2010 ◽  
Vol 447-448 ◽  
pp. 775-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurniawan Miftah ◽  
Wan Ramli Wan Daud ◽  
Edy Herianto Majlan

Stress applying in the stack of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) effects the performance of PEMFC. High pressure in the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) can reduce electrical contact resistance between bipolar plate and MEA. Nevertheless, too high pressure in the PEMFC can destroy MEA. Performance of PEMFC can be optimized by make proportional stress in the assembly of PEMFC. Finite element analysis (FEA) is one of method that can be used for analysis of stress in the PEMFC stack. However, setting of parameter in the analysis using FEA still became one of problem if realistic result must be desired. This paper reports setting of parameters in the stress analysis of PEMFC assembly using FEA method and study relationship of stress analysis with electrical contact resistance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 227 ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Netwall ◽  
Benjamin D. Gould ◽  
Joseph A. Rodgers ◽  
Nicholas J. Nasello ◽  
Karen E. Swider-Lyons

Author(s):  
Linfa Peng ◽  
Diankai Qiu ◽  
Peiyun Yi ◽  
Xinmin Lai

Contact pressure distribution between bipolar plate (BPP) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) has significant impact on performance and life time of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. Most current studies for contact pressure prediction are based on finite-element analysis (FEA), requiring huge computation for the whole fuel cell assembly. Comparatively speaking, the more generalized and well-developed analytical methods are deficient in this field. The objective of this study is to propose a full-scale continuous equivalent model to predict GDL contact pressure effectively in the PEM fuel cell. Using the model, the nonuniform pressure distribution resulted from dimensional errors of metallic BPP and GDL could be obtained. First, a parameterized theoretical model of BPP/GDL assembly is established based on equivalent stiffness analysis of components, and definition methods of dimensional errors are proposed according to actual measurements and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Then, experiments are carried out to obtain the actual GDL contact pressure and the model results show good agreement with experimental results. At last, effects of dimensional errors are investigated. Acceptable assembly pressure for a given fuel cell is suggested based on the model. This model is helpful to understand the effect of the dimensional errors, and it also could be adopted to guide the manufacturing of BPP, GDL, and the assembling of PEM fuel cell.


2011 ◽  
Vol 52-54 ◽  
pp. 875-880
Author(s):  
Kurniawan Miftah ◽  
Wan Ramli Wan Daud ◽  
Edy Herianto Majlan

The assembly of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is the important factor for the performance. The achievement of proper design will improve the pressure distribution and the electrical contact resistance between fuel cell parts. The assembly pressure affects the contact behavior between of bipolar plate and gas diffusion layer (GDL). In this study, finite element analysis (FEA) was used to analyze the behavior of single cell fuel cell under the variation of assembly pressure. It shows 3D of deformation, and the compression pressure every part of the fuel cell components. The simulation varied the torque assembly from 1 Nm to 3 Nm with increment 0.5 Nm. The simulation using FEA shows that high assembly pressure also affects to the high deformation and stress in the components of fuel cell. This phenomenon affects to the performance of PEM fuel cell.


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