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

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.11a
• /
• pp.87.1-87.1
• /
• 2010

Metallic bipolar plate is the one of the promising candidate material for PEMFC because of mechanical strength, low gas permeability, electrical and thermal conductivity. However, the corrosion is the main obstacle of metallic bipolar plate, and many investigations, especially coating on base metal, have been carried out to avoid corrosion. Gold is considered as the one of the best coating material because of its corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. In this study, gold coated metallic bipolar plate was developed and evaluated. Due to our coating process, gold can be well-adhere to the base material, and hydrophobic material on its gold surface was coated by dipping method for better water management. To verify coating reliability, a single fuel cell(50cm2) was evaluated, and its durability over 4000hrs was demonstrated.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.11a
• /
• pp.180-183
• /
• 2009

Composite bipolar plates offer several advantages of low cost, light weight, and ease of manufacturing compared to traditional graphite plate. However, it is difficult to achieve both high electrical conductivity and high flexural strength. In this study, the hybrid carbons filled epoxy composite bipolar plates were fabricated to test electrical conductivity and flexural properties. Graphite powders were used as the main conducting filler and continuous carbon fiber fabrics were inserted to improve the mechanical properties of the composite. This hybrid composite showed improved in-plane electrical conductivity and flexural property. The moldability of the hybrid composite was also improved comparing to the continuous prepreg composite. This study suggested that the continuous carbon fiber inserted graphite/epoxy composites can be a potential candidate material to overcome the disadvantages of conventional graphite composite or continuous prepreg composite bipolar plates.

• Carbon letters
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.110-116
• /
• 2013

This study investigated a developed process for producing a composite bipolar plate having excellent conductivity by using coal tar pitch and phenol resin as binders. We used a pressing method to prepare a compact of graphite powder mixed with binders. Resistivity of the impregnated compact was observed as heat treatment temperature was increased. It was observed that pore sizes of the GCTP samples increased as the heat treatment temperature increased. There was not a great difference between the flexural strengths of GCTP-IM and CPR-IM as the heat treatment temperature was increased. The resistivity of GPR700-IM, heat treated at $700^{\circ}C$ using phenolic resin as a binder, was $4829{\mu}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$ which was best value in this study. In addition, it is expected that with the appropriate selection of carbon powder and further optimization of process we can produce a composite bipolar plate which has excellent properties.

• New & Renewable Energy
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.5-10
• /
• 2008

Hydrogen fuel cell is clean and efficient technology along with high energy densities. While there are many different types of fuel cells, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stands out as one of the most promising for transportation and small stationary applications. This paper focuses on design of bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The bipolar plate model is realistically and accurately simulated velocity distribution, current density distribution and its effect on the PEMFC system using CFD tool FLUENT.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2011.05a
• /
• pp.92.1-92.1
• /
• 2011

고분자 전해질 연료전지 (PEMFC)의 핵심 부품 중의 하나인 Bipolar Plate (분리판)을 제조하기 위해서 고분자/그라파이트 복합재료를 사용하였다. 고분자 매트릭스로는 경화시 뛰어난 화학적, 기계적 특성을 갖는 에폭시를 채택하였고, 전기 전도성을 부여하기 위해 그라파이트를 도입하였으며, 에폭시 수지의 내충격성을 향상시키기 위해서 Carbon Fiber를 채택하였다. 에폭시 분말과 그라파이트 분말, 그리고 1cm 정도의 길이를 갖는 Carbon Fiber을 믹서에 넣고 균일하게 혼합하였다. 이 혼합물을 이형제 처리된 몰드에 주입하고, Hot Press를 사용하여 가열, 가압 ($150^{\circ}C$, 4 ton/$cm^2$, 2시간)하면서 경화시켰다. 일정 비율로 고정된 에폭시/그라파이트 계에 Carbon Filber의 혼합 비율을 변화시키면서 전기적, 물리적 성질의 변화를 연구하였다.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2007.11a
• /
• pp.39-42
• /
• 2007

Hydrogen fuel cell is clean and efficient technology along with high energy densities. While there are many different types of fuel cells, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell stands out as one of the most promising for transportation and small stationary applications. This paper focuses on design of bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The bipolar plate model is realistically and accurately simulated velocity distribution, current density distribution and its effect on the PEMFC system using CFD tool FLUENT.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2006.05a
• /
• pp.89-90
• /
• 2006

The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, which takes a large portion of stack cost. In this study, as alternative materials fur bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity. Flow channels were fabricated by compression molding, and design of experiments (DOE) was applied to the tests to evaluate moldability. Results showed that land width and channel depth were two significant factors for moldability, and channel width had little influence on the moldability.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.5
• /
• pp.153-159
• /
• 2006

Austenitic stainless steels with addition of various amounts of Mo and W were evaluated in terms of corrosion and contact resistance to determine optimum alloy composition of metallic bipolar plate for PEMFC. The corrosion property was evaluated by both acid fume exposure test at $130^{\circ}C$ and by electrochemical polarization tests in $H_3PO_4$ solution at $80^{\circ}C$. Austenitic stainless steel with proper amount of Mo and W demonstrated not only good corrosion resistance but also low contact resistance. Analyses on the passive film show that partial substitution of Mo by W enhances passive film stability and repassivation property. Test results suggest that austenitic stainless steel with 2 wt%Mo and 4 wt%W has optimum composition for metallic bipolar plate used in PEMFC.

• 한국전기화학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2003.07a
• /
• pp.229-232
• /
• 2003