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Computational Justification of Current Distribution Measurement Technique Via Segmenting Bipolar Plate in Fuel Cells  

Choi, Yong-Jun (School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha Univ.)
Lee, Gi-Yong (School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha Univ.)
Kang, Kyung-Mun (School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha Univ.)
Kim, Whan-Gi (Dept. of Applied Chemistry, Konkuk Univ.)
Ju, Hyun-Chul (School of Mechanical Engineering, Inha Univ.)
Publication Information
Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society / v.21, no.1, 2010 , pp. 1-11 More about this Journal
Abstract
Current distribution measurement technique based on a segmented bipolar plate (BP) has been widely adopted to visualize the distribution of current density in a polymer electrolyte membrane. However, a concern is raised how closely the current density of a segmented BP can approach that of a corresponding non-segmented membrane. Therefore, in this paper, the accuracy of the measurement technique is numerically evaluated by applying a three-dimensional, two-phase fuel cell model to a $100\;cm^2$ area fuel cell geometry in which segmented BPs and non-segmented membrane are combined together. The simulation results reveal that the errors between the current densities of the segmented BPs and non-segmented membrane indeed exist, predicting the maximum relative error of 33% near the U-turn regions of the flow-field. The numerical study further illustrates that the erroneous result originates from the BPs segmented non-symmetrically based on the flow channels that allows some currents bypassing flow channels to flow into its neighboring segment. Finally, this paper suggests the optimal way for bipolar plate segmentation that can minimize the deviation of current measured in a segmented BP from that of a corresponding membrane region.
Keywords
Fuel cell; Current density distribution; Polymer electrolyte membrane; Bipolar plate; Segment;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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