• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1031-1037
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• 2010

This paper proposed lightweight aluminum bipolar plates as an alternative for conventional graphite bipolar plates in fuel cell systems used as a power source for small reconnaissance UAVs. Since bipolar plates occupy more than 80% of the total weight of the fuel cell system, lightweight aluminum bipolar plates can improve the overall payload and flight time of the fuel cell UAV. The aluminum and graphite bipolar plates were fabricated to compare the performance of each of them. A 15% higher performance per weight was obtained from aluminum bipolar plates than the graphite bipolar plates. Also, the performance of a single cell using aluminum bipolar plates was evaluated under various operating conditions.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.172-175
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• 2009

A bipolar plate is an important component in a fuel cell in the sense of cost and weight. This study aimed at developing highly conductive, lightweight, and low cost bipolar plates. Hybrid carbons filled poly(phenylene sulfide)(PPS) composite bipolar plates were prepared by using the compression molding technique. Various types and amounts of conducting carbon fillers such as graphite, carbon black, carbon fibers, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were adopted for the composites. Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the composites were measured in order to investigate effects of each components of fillers. When the graphite is only used as a conducting filler, the electrical conductivity of the composites increases with increasing the content, but the flexural strength decreases dramatically. However, for CNTs and carbon fibers, the flexural strength initially increases and then decreases with increasing the amount of the conducting fillers. The amount of graphite corresponding to the peak of flexural strength was moved to lower content with increasing the amount of CNTs or carbon fiber. When hybrid conducting fillers such as fibrous and particulate fillers were used, the synergy effect in mechanical and electrical properties was observed.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.666-675
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• 2002

Piezoelectric Fiber Composites with Interdigitated Electrodes (PFCIDE) were previously introduced as an alternative to monolithic wafers with conventional electrodes for applications of structural actuation. This paper is an investigation into the performance improvement of piezoelectric fiber composite actuators by changing the matrix material. This paper presents a modified micro-electromechanical model and numerical analyses of piezoelectric fiber/piezopolymer matrix composite actuator with interdigitated electrodes (PFPMIDE). Various concepts from different backgrounds including three-dimensional linear elastic and dielectric theories have been incorporated into the present linear piezoelectric model. The rule of mixture and the modified method to calculate effective properties of fiber composites were extended to apply to the PFPMIDE model. The new model was validated when compared with available experimental data and other analytical results. To see the structural responses of a composite plate integrated with the PFPMIDE, three-dimensional finite element formulations were derived. Numerical analyses show that the shape of the graphite/epoxy composite plate with the PFPMIDE may be controlled by judicious choice of voltages, piezoelectric fiber angles, and elastic tailoring of the composite plate.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.63 no.5
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• pp.597-605
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• 2017

Our work aims to analyze using the finite element method the evolution of the stress intensity factor (SIF) parameter K of three laminated folded plates stacks [$+{\alpha}$, $-{\alpha}$], made of the same epoxy matrix and different reinforcement fibers (boron, graphite and glass). Our results show that the angle of orientation of the boron/epoxy composite has no great influence on the variation of the parameter KI. Compared to composite graphite/epoxy and glass/epoxy, the laminated composite boron/epoxy reduces more the SIF KI in the middle of the plate for angles $0^{\circ}{\leq}{\alpha}{\leq}30^{\circ}$.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.10-16
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• 2007

The 2-step manufacturing method consisting of preforming and stamping processes was developed to manufacture composite bipolar plates for PEMFCS. The preform was composed of expanded graphite, graphite flake and phenol resin. Procuring conditions were optimized by checking the electrical conductivity, flexural strength and microstructure. Procuring temperature $(100^{\circ}C)$ slightly above the melting point of phenol powders $(90^{\circ}C)$ induced moderate curing, but also prevented excessive curing. Preforms utilizing the tangled structure of expanded graphite were easily fabricated at low pressure of 0.07-0.28MPa. The proper procuring time, 5min, was determined to fabricate the preform stably because insufficient and excessive procuring deteriorated the flexural strength of composite bipolar plates.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.406-411
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• 2021

PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cells generate only water as a by-product, and thus are in the spotlight as an eco-friendly energy source. Among the various components composing the stack of the fuel cell, research on the bipolar plate that determines the efficiency of the fuel cell is being actively conducted. The composite bipolar plate has high strength, rigidity and corrosion resistance, but has the disadvantage of having a relatively low electrical conductivity. In this study, to overcome these shortcomings, a gas diffusion layer (GDL)-composite bipolar plate assembly was developed and its performance was experimentally verified. The graphite foil coating method developed in the previous study was applied to reduce the contact resistance between the bipolar plate and the GDL. In addition, in order to improve electron path in the stack and minimize the contact resistance between the GDL and the bipolar plate, a GDL-bipolar plate assembly was fabricated using a thin metal foil. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the developed GDL-bipolar plate assembly had 98% lower electrical resistance compared to the conventional composite bipolar plate.

• Composites Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2024

The bipolar plate is a crucial element of the vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) as it serves as both the electrical conduit and the structural support for the cell within the VRFB stack. Although, the graphite material is primarily used for the bipolar plate due to its excellent electrical conductivity, a significant limitation of performance of the VRFB is present due to high interfacial contact resistance (ICR) arises between the electrode and bipolar plate in the cell stack. This study aims to develop an integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly that will address the limitations of the ICR. The integrated assembly was constructed using a single carbon felt with thermoplastic and thermoset polymers utilizing hot press method. Experimental results verify that the bipolar plate assembly exhibits reduced area specific resistance (ASR) due to the continuous electrical path. Additionally, from the charge/discharge cell test results, the integrated assembly shows improved cell performance. Therefore, the developed integrated electrode-bipolar plate assembly can serve as a substitute for the conventional bipolar plate and electrode assembly.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.554-559
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• 2015

Single cell of PEMFC (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell) is composed of bipolar plates, gasket, GDL and the MEA. Bipolar plate's function is the collecting electricity, helping oxygen/hydrogen gas diffuse evenly and draining the water and heat. In this work, we have conducted experiments to low contact resistance and improve the performance of a $25cm^2$ single cell by using metal forms. We have following experimental cases: 1) Conventional graphite serpentine channel bipolar plate; 2) Channel-less bipolar plate with nickel(Ni) based metal foam which coated by various materials. We focused the difference in contact resistance and performance of the single cell with metal foam depending on various coating materials. The experimental results show the similar performance of single cells between with serpentine channel bipolar plates and with channel-less bipolar plate using metal foams. In addition, single cell with metal foam shows potential to higher performance than conventional channel.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.129-136
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• 2010

The corrosion behaviors of 316L stainless steel were investigated in simulated anodic and cathodic environments for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by using electrochemical measurement techniques. Interfacial contact resistance(ICR) between the stainless steel and gas diffusion layer(GDL) was also measured. The possibility of 316L was evaluated as a substitute material for the graphite bipolar plate of PEMFC. The value of ICR decreased with an increase in compaction stress(20 N/$cm^2$~220 N/$cm^2$) showing the higher values than the required value in PEMFC condition. Although 316L was spontaneously passivated in simulated cathodic environment, its passive state was unstable in simulated anodic environment. Potentiostatic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement results showed that the corrosion resistance in cathodic condition was higher and more stable than that in anodic condition. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and inductively coupled plasma(ICP) were used to analyze the surface morphology and the metal ion concentration in electrolytes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.969-974
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• 1994

The dynamic behavior of graphite/epoxy laminated composite shell structure due to low-velocity impact is investigated using the finite element method. In this analysis, the Newmark's constant-acceleration time integration algorithm is used. The impact response such as contact force, central deflection and dynamic strain history form shell structure analysis are compared with those form the plate non-linear analysis. The effects of curvature, impact velocity and mass of impactor on the composite shell are discussed.