Effect of pH on Corrosion of Sintered Stainless Steels Used for Bipolar Plates in Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells / Wpływ Ph Roztworu Na Szybkosc Korozji Spiekanych Stali Nierdzewnych Stosowanych Na Okładki Ogniw Paliwowych Z Membrana Polimerowa

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Włodarczyk ◽  
A. Wronska
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Stainless Steels ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Portable Devices ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Corrosion Properties ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are numbered among low-temperature cells. Their operating temperature reaches 120°C, whereas their efficiency amounts to ca. 40%. These cells are most often used for the batteries for portable devices, low and high power generators, stationary power plants and car drives. The PEMFCs are composed of the membrane, electrodes at both sides and bipolar plates, also termed interconnectors. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the sintered stainless steels in simulated environments of a PEM fuel cells for bipolar plates. The ferritic (434L) and austenitic (316L) stainless steels were examined. The corrosion properties were examined in 0.1 mol dm-3 Na2SO4+ 2 ppmF-(pH= 1; 3; 5) at 80°C.

Alloys that form conductive and passivating oxides for proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plates

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1723-1729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Aukland ◽  
Abdellah Boudina ◽  
David S. Eddy ◽  
Joseph V. Mantese ◽  
Margarita P. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Oxide Films ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Concentrated Solutions ◽  
Exchange Membrane

During the operation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, a high-resistance oxide is often formed on the cathode surface of base metal bipolar plates. Over time, this corrosion mechanism leads to a drop in fuel cell efficiency and potentially to complete failure. To address this problem, we have developed alloys capable of forming oxides that are both conductive and chemically stable under PEM fuel cell operating conditions. Five alloys of titanium with tantalum or niobium were investigated. The oxides were formed on the alloys by cyclic voltammetry in solutions mimicking the cathode- and anode-side environment of a PEM fuel cell. The oxides of all tested alloys had lower surface resistance than the oxide of pure titanium. We also investigated the chemical durability of Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys in more concentrated solutions beyond those typically found in PEM fuel cells. The oxide films formed on Ti–Nb and Ti–Ta alloys remained conductive and chemically stable in these concentrated solutions. The stability of the oxide films was evaluated; Ti alloys having 3% Ta and Nb were identified as potential candidates for bipolar plate materials.

scholarly journals Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells

Metals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diogo M. Neto ◽  
Marta C. Oliveira ◽  
José L. Alves ◽  
Luís F. Menezes
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Thin Sheet ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Pem Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Thin stamped bipolar plates (BPPs) are viewed as promising alternatives to traditional graphite BPPs in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Metallic BPPs provide good thermal/electrical conductivity and exhibit high mechanical strength, to support the loads within the stack. However, BPPs manufactured by stamping processes are prone to defects. In this study, the effect of the tool’s geometry on the thin sheet formability is investigated through finite element simulation. Despite the broad variety of flow field designs, most of BPPs comprise two representative zones. Hence, in order to reduce the computational cost, the finite element analysis is restricted to these two zones, where the deformation induced by the stamping tools is investigated. The channel/rib width, the punch/die fillet radii, and the channel depth are the parameters studied. The analysis is conducted for a stainless steel SS304 with a thickness of 0.15 mm. The results show that the maximum value of thinning occurs always in the U-bend channel section, specifically in the fillet radius of the die closest to the axis of revolution.

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