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Study for the Deformation and Fatigue Life of a PEMFC

고분자 전해질 연료전지 막의 변형 및 피로수명

  • 양정환 (한국항공대학교 대학원) ;
  • 박정선 (한국항공대학교 항공우주및기계공학부)
  • Received : 2010.11.08
  • Accepted : 2011.05.02
  • Published : 2011.05.01

Abstract

The stress distribution and stress amplitude of a membrane are major factors to decide the mechanical fatigue life of PEMFC (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell). In this paper, mechanical stresses under operating hygro-thermal condition of the membrane are numerically modelled. Contact analysis between gas diffusion layer (GDL) and the membrane is performed under various temperature-humidity conditions. The structural model has nonlinear material properties depending on temperature and relative humidity. Several geometric conditions are applied to the model. The numerical analysis results indicate that deformations of the membrane are strongly related with assembly conditions of the fuel cell. The fatigue life is predicted for practical operating condition through experimental data.

전해질 막의 응력 및 변화폭의 분포는 고분자 전해질 연료전지 (PEMFC, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell)의 피로수명의 중요한 인자이다. 본 논문에서는 연료전지 운전조건의 hygro-thermal 조건에 의해 전해질 막에 발생하는 기계적 응력 해석을 모델링 하였다. 기체확산층과 전해질 막 사이의 접촉해석이 여러 가지 온도, 습도 조건에 대하여 수행되었다. 구조 모델은 온도와 상대습도에 의존하는 비선형 재료물성을 적용하였다. 몇 가지 기하학적 조건들이 모델에 적용되었다. 구조해석 결과는 전해질 막의 변형이 체결조건에 크게 의존함을 보여주었다. 실험 데이터와의 비교를 통해 운전 조건에 대하여 피로수명 예측이 수행되었다.

Keywords

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