Optimization of Characteristics and Construction of Composite Bipolar Plates of Polymer Fuel Cells

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 department of mechanical engineering,, Amirkabir University of Technology

2 Malek Ashtar University of Technology, Fuel Cell Technology Research Laboratory, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of mechanical engineering, Malek Ashtar university of technology, Iran

Abstract

This study investigates the construction of polymer/graphic composite bipolar plates via hot compression molding for use in polymer fuel cells and the optimization of characteristics by experimental test design. For this purpose, the Minitab software is used. Besides, this study examined the physical, mechanical, and electrical characteristics of the constructed bipolar plates by performing the tests of water absorption, calculation of density, the test bending strength, interfacial contact resistance, and electrical conductance. The pressure and the curing time were considered as the input parameters of the optimization, and the goal is to optimize the flexural strength and interfacial contact resistance to achieve the United States Department of Energy's 2020 target for the bipolar plates of polymer fuel cells. The results show that with a pressure of 79.499 MPa and the curing time under pressure was 70s, the parameters of flexural strength and optimum interfacial contact resistance are 53.91 MPa and 10.57 mΩ.cm2, respectively. The properties also include water absorption and electrical conductivity in the through-plane direction of 0.36 percent and 27.22 (S/m) respectively, which is in line with the goals of the United States Department of Energy.

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Main Subjects

References

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Amirkabir Journal of Mechanical Engineering
Volume 54, Issue 6
September 2022
Pages 1373-1390

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