An improved model for predicting electrical contact resistance between bipolar plate and gas diffusion layer in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 265-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiliang Wu ◽  
Yuanyuan Zhou ◽  
Guosong Lin ◽  
Shuxin Wang ◽  
S. Jack Hu
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Electrical Contact Resistance ◽  
Improved Model ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Study Effect of Stress in the Electrical Contact Resistance of Bipolar Plate and Membrane Electrode Assembly in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell: A Review

2010 ◽  
Vol 447-448 ◽  
pp. 775-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurniawan Miftah ◽  
Wan Ramli Wan Daud ◽  
Edy Herianto Majlan
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Membrane Electrode Assembly ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Electrical Contact Resistance ◽  
Exchange Membrane

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.

Stress Analysis of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2011 ◽  
Vol 52-54 ◽  
pp. 875-880
Author(s):  
Kurniawan Miftah ◽  
Wan Ramli Wan Daud ◽  
Edy Herianto Majlan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Electrical Contact Resistance ◽  
Compression Pressure ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Exchange Membrane

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.

Multiscale Electrical Contact Resistance Between Gas Diffusion Layer and Bipolar Plate in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunghun Yoo ◽  
Yong Hoon Jang
Keyword(s):  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Diffusion Layer ◽  
Contact Area ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Electrical Contact ◽  
Gas Diffusion Layer ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Electrical Contact Resistance

The contact resistance between gas diffusion layer and bipolar plate in a fuel cell stack is calculated through multiscale contact analysis, which deals with rough surfaces dependent on scales. The rough surface according to scale shows that the surface parameters vary with scale, leading to inaccurate contact resistance. A numerical model is established to reflect the contact interaction of carbon graphite fiber in the contact interface. Two separate analyses are performed, static analysis to determine the contact area and electrical conduction analysis to calculate the electrical contact resistance. Results show that the contact area decreases and the corresponding contact resistance increases as the scale decreases. To accurately estimate the contact resistance, an asymptotic contact resistance according to scale variation is predicted using error analysis. The computed contact resistance is validated via comparison with previously reported values.

Effect of Compressive Pressure on the Contact Behavior Between Bipolar Plate and Gas Diffusion Layer in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Li ◽  
Jinzhu Tan ◽  
Jianming Gong
Keyword(s):  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Contact Area ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Contact Resistivity ◽  
Clamping Force ◽  
Compressive Pressure ◽  
Exchange Membrane

The clamping force during the assembly of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells has a great influence in the contact resistance between bipolar plate (BPP) and gas diffusion layer (GDL). In this paper, three different types of carbon papers are used as GDL materials. The contact resistance between BPP and GDL is measured under different applied clamping torques. Based on experimental data, a relationship of compressive pressure resulting from the applied clamping torque and contact resistivity is established by the least square method. Based on the commercial code abaqus, a program is developed to predict the contact resistivity. In addition, the changes of contact pressure, contact area, and porosity of GDL are studied. The experimental result shows that the contact resistivity nonlinearly decreases with increasing of the applied clamping torque. The thicker GDL without fillers has a higher contact resistivity. Finite element analysis (FEA) results show that both contact area and contact pressure increase with increasing of the compressive pressure in the same fillet radius of the rib, except that the fillet radius is zero. The porosity decreases with increase of the clamping force. The contact resistivity is consistent with the experimental results. So it can be predicted very well.

A Numerical Model for Predicting Gas Diffusion Layer Failure in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiyun Yi ◽  
Linfa Peng ◽  
Xinmin Lai ◽  
Jun Ni
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Model ◽  
Contact Resistance ◽  
Failure Criterion ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Water Removal ◽  
Strength Failure ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Gas diffusion layer (GDL) is one of the critical components in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and plays several important roles, such as structural support, reactants permeation, water removal, electrons, and heat conduction. The assembly pressure on bipolar plate is an important factor that affects the performance of PEMFC stack. Not enough assembly pressure leads to leakage of fuels and high contact resistance. Too much pressure, on the other hand, results in damage to the GDL, which increases the GDL Ohmic resistance and interfacial contact resistance, and in turn influences the reactant transport and water removal. The objective of the present study is to develop a numerical model to predict the onset of GDL failure and obtain the maximum assembly pressure on bipolar plate. Composite micromechanical model is applied to calculate the effective elastic properties of GDL; strength failure criterion is established to judge GDL damage with the stress distribution; finite element method model is developed to show the failure zone and the failure propagation in GDL combining the estimated elastic properties and strength failure criterion. Toray TGP-H-060 carbon paper is introduced as a numerical example and the numerical results show good agreements with experimental results. This numerical prediction model is beneficial to understand the basic mechanism of GDL failure and helpful to guide the assembling of PEMFC stack.

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