Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences (한국항공우주학회지)

The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences (한국항공우주학회)
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Performance Evaluation of Magnesium Bipolar Plate in Lightweight PEM Fuel Cell Stack for UAV

무인기용 경량 PEM 연료전지 스택용 마그네슘 분리판의 성능평가

  • Received : 2013.07.23
  • Accepted : 2013.09.23
  • Published : 2013.10.01
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Abstract

A magnesium bipolar plate whose surface was protected by thinly deposited silver layer was investigated as an alternative to existing graphite bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells. Thin silver layer of $3{\mu}m$ was deposited on a magnesium alloy substrate by physical vapor deposition (PVD) method in an environment of $180^{\circ}C$. A number of tests were conducted on the fabricated magnesium based bipolar plates to determine their suitability for use in PEM fuel cell stacks. The test on corrosion resistance in the same pH condition as in a PEM operation demonstrated the layer protected the magnesium alloy substrate, while unprotected substrate suffered from severe corrosion. The contact resistance of the fabricated bipolar plate was less than $20m{\Omega}-cm^2$ which was superior to the conventional bipolar plates. A single cell was constructed using the fabricated bipolar plates and power output was measured. Due to the enhanced conductivity caused by low contact resistance, slight increase was observed in current density and output voltage. With low density of the magnesium substrate and ease on machining, the weight reduction of the stack of 30~40 % is possible to produce the same power output.

표면에 얇은 은(Ag)층이 증착된 마그네슘 분리판을 PEM 연료전지의 그라파이트 분리판의 대체 재질로 검토하였다. $180^{\circ}C$의 온도 환경에서 마그네슘 모재 표면에 $3{\mu}m$의 얇은 은층을 물리적 증착방법(PVD)을 이용하여 증착하였다. 제작된 마그네슘 분리판을 대상으로 PEM 연료전지 스택 적용 가능성을 확인하기 위하여 다수의 실험을 수행하였다. PEM 연료전지의 동작환경과 동일한 pH에서의 부식실험을 통하여 보호막이 형성된 마그네슘 분리판은 부식으로부터 모재를 적절히 보호하였지만 보호막이 형성되지 않은 경우 심각한 부식이 발생됨을 확인하였다. 제작된 마그네슘 분리판의 접촉저항은 $20m{\Omega}-cm^2$이하로 기존의 분리판 대비 우수한 성능을 보였다. 이러한 낮은 접촉저항으로 인하여 전기전도도가 개선되어 연료전지의 성능이 향상됨을 확인하였다. 마그네슘 모재의 낮은 밀도와 기계가공의 용이성 때문에 동일한 연료전지 스택의 출력을 기준으로 약 30~40 %의 중량절감이 가능한 것으로 판단되었다.

Keywords

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