A Developed Geometry for Endplate for Uniform Contact Pressure Distribution on the Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Active Area

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Fuel cell Technology Research laboratory, Malek Ashtar University of Technology

2 Azad Islampic University, Jouybar Branch

3 Malek Ashtar University of Technology

Abstract

The contact resistance between polymer exchange membrane fuel cell components    has a crucial effect on cell performance. The geometry of the endplate, on the other hand, plays an essential role in the contact pressure distribution on the membrane electrode assembly and the amount of contact resistance between plates. In this paper, the effect of endplate geometry on the contact pressure distribution over the membrane electrode assembly is simulated using ABAQUS software. In the next part, a new geometry for the endplate is provided and compared to flat endplates. Geometrical parameters of an endplate with curvature (bomb-shaped endplate) are considered, and the effects of these parameters on the contact pressure distribution over the membrane electrode assembly are investigated. In this simulation, a 3D model of the fuel cell is developed. Our simulation results show good performances for the designed endplate and uniform contact pressure distribution on the fuel cell active area. Finally, a single fuel cell was manufactured and assembled using the simulation parameters, and experimental tests are conducted using pressure films to verify the design.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 52, Issue 11
February 2021
Pages 3275-3288

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