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

Author(s):  
Sunghun Yoo ◽  
Yong Hoon Jang

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.

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.


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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guo Li ◽  
Jinzhu Tan ◽  
Jianming Gong

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 515 ◽  
pp. 230655
Author(s):  
Yange Yang ◽  
Xiangyang Zhou ◽  
Fumin Tang ◽  
Bing Li ◽  
Pingwen Ming ◽  
...  

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