• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.1201-1208
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• 2002

A numerical flow-field analysis is performed to investigate flow configurations in the anode, cathode and cooling channels on the bipolar plates of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Continuous open-faced flow channels are formed on the bipolar plate surface to supply hydrogen, air and water. In this analysis, two types of channel pattern are considered: serpentine and spiral. The averaged pressure distribution and velocity profiles of the hydrogen, air and water channels are calculated by two-dimensional flow-field analysis. The equations for the conservation of mass and momentum in the two-dimensional fluid flow analysis are slightly modified to include the characteristics of the PEMFC. The analysis results indicate that the serpentine flow-fields are locally unstable (because two channels are cross at right angles). The spiral flow-fields has more stable than the serpentine, due to rotational fluid-flow inertia forces. From this study, the spiral channel pattern is suggested for a channel pattern of the bipolar plate of the PEMFC to obtain better performance.

• Proceedings of the KIPE Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.643-645
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• 2008

Stainless steel 304 and 316 plates were deposited with the multi-layered coatings of titanium film (0.1um) and gold film (1-2um) by an electron beam evaporation method. The XRD patterns of the stainless steel plates modified with the multi-layered coatings showed the crystalline phases of the external gold film and the stainless steel substrate. Surface microstructural morphologies of the stainless steel bipolar plates modified with multi-layered coatings were observed by AFM and FE-SEM images. The external gold films formed on the stainless steel plates showed microstructure of grains of about 100nm diameter. The grain size of the external surface of the stainless steel plates increased with the gold film thickness. The electrical resistance and water contact angle of the stainless steel bipolar plates covered with multi-layered coatings were examined with the thickness of the external gold film.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.6-9
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• 2008

The efficiency and life time of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system is critically changed with its humidity which should be maintained properly during dynamic operation. Membrane humidifier is required to regulate proper humidity level for the design point of the PEMFC system. In this study, we presented the performance of the cylindrical membrane humidifier which is operated as water-to-gas. Dry air pressure, liquid water flow temperature, and air flow rate were chosen as the operating parameters. Humidity level is expressed with dew point.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.473-477
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• 2017

The polymer membrane of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has a great influence on PEMFC performance and durability. In this study, hydrogen permeability, fluorine emission rate (FER), lifetime, and performance of Nafion membranes with different thicknesses were measured to investigate the effect of thickness of polymer membrane on performance and durability. The relationship between membrane thickness and lifetime was obtained from the relationships between hydrogen permeability and membrane thickness, hydrogen permeability and FER, FER and lifetime. As the membrane became thicker, the hydrogen permeability and FER decreased and the lifetime increased. On the other hand, the performance decreased with increasing membrane resistance. The membrane thickness range satisfying both performance and durability was 25 to $28{\mu}m$.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.181-186
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• 2016

Recently, there are many efforts focused on development of more economical non-fluorinated membranes for use in PEMFCs (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells). In this study, characteristics of sulfonated Poly(ether ether ketone) (sPEEK) were compared according to degrees of sulfonation (DS), relative humidity, cell temperatures at PEMFC operation condition. I-V polarization curve, hydrogen crossover, electrochemical surface area, membrane resistance and charge transfer resistance were measured. sPEEK membrane showed high performance at high DS, high temperature and high relative humidity, in particular, performance of sPEEK membrane decreased largely due to low ionic conductivity at low DS and low relative humidity.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.408-421
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• 2008

In this paper, the parallel operation for a FC generation system is introduced and designed in order to increase the capacity for the distributed generation of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system. The equipment is the type that is used by parallel operated PEMFC generation systems which have two PEMFC systems, two dc/dc boost converters with shared dc link, and a grid-connected dc/ac inverter for embedded generation. The system requirement for the purpose of parallel operated generation using PEMFC system is also described. Aspects related to the mechanical (MBOP) and electrical (EBOP) component, size, and system complexity of the distributed generation system, it is explained in order to design an optimal distributed generation system using PEMFC. The optimal controller design for the parallel operation of the converter is suggested and informative simulations and experimental results are provided.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.1358-1370
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• 2003

The effects of anode, cathode, and cooling channels for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) on flow fields have been investigated numerically. Continuous open-faced fluid flow channels formed in the surface of the bipolar plates traverse the central area of the plate surface in a plurality of passes such as a serpentine manner. The pressure distributions and velocity profiles of the hydrogen, air and water channels on bipolar plates of the PEMFC are analyzed using a two-dimensional simulation. The conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy in the three-dimensional flow solver are modified to include electro-chemical characteristics of the fuel cell. In our three-dimensional numerical simulations, the operation of electro-chemical in Membrane Electrolyte Assembly (MEA) is assumed to be steady-state, involving multi-species. Supplied gases are consumed by chemical reaction. The distributions of oxygen and hydrogen concentration with constant humidity are calculated. The concentration of hydrogen is the highest at the center region of the active area, while the concentration of oxygen is the highest at the inlet region. The flow and thermal profiles are evaluated to determine the flow patterns of gas supplied and cooling plates for an optimal fuel cell stack design.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.383-386
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• 2007

This paper describes the design and integration of the wind- fuel cell hybrid system. The hybrid system components included a wind turbine, an electrolyzer (for generation of H2), a PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell), storage system and BOP (Balance of Plant) system. The energy input is entirely provided by a wind turbine. A DC-DC converter controls the power input to the electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen and oxygen form water. The hydrogen used the fuel for the PEMFC. The hydrogen is compressed and stored in high pressure tank by hydrogen gas booster system.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.279-284
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• 2021

In this study, the performance and distribution of fluid concentration, pressure, and current density of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell was investigated. In this paper, the two different types of flow field design were compared, singel channel and 5-channels. As a result, the 5-channels of flow field showed the better performance than that of single chanel. Especially, the single channel showed better performance in terms of mass transfer loss area.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.397-403
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• 2015

In this study, water distribution inside a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was measured experimentally. Water distribution is non-uniform because of vigorous chemical reaction and mass transport and has been difficult to measure experimentally. Therefore, much research relied on indirect measuring methods or numerical simulations. In this study, several mini temperature-humidity sensors were installed at the channel for measuring temperature and humidity of the flowing gas throughout the channel. Only one of two electrode channels was humidified externally, and the humidity distribution on the other side was measured, enabling the observation of water transport characteristics under various conditions. Diffusion through the membrane became more vigorous as the temperature of the humidifier rose, but at high current density, electro-osmotic drag became more effective than diffusion.