• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.99-102
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• 2006

Optimal flow-field design of bipolar-plates for a commercial class PEM(polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cell stack was carried out on the basis of three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics(CFD) simulation. A three-dimensional CFD model originally developed by Shimpalee et al., has been utilized for performing large-scale simulation of a single fuel cell consisting of bipolar-plates gas diffusion layers, and a membrane-electrode-assembly(MEA). The CFD model is able to predict the current density, pressure drops, gas velocities, vapor and liquid water contents, temperature distributions, etc. inside a single fuel cell. Depending on simulation results from the CFD modeling of a PEM fuel cell, several flow-fields of bipolar-plates were designed and verified. The final design of the bipolar-plate has been chosen from the simulations and experimental tests and showed the best performance as expected from the simulation results under a normal operating condition. Thus, the CFD simulation approach to design the optimal flow-field of the bipolar-plates was successful. The final design was adopted as the best flow-field to build a commercial scale PEM fuel cell stack, the performance of which shows about 42% higher than that of the older bipolar-plate design.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2010.11a
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• pp.90.1-90.1
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• 2010

The design and fabrication of a metallic bipolar plate-gasket assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) is defined. This bipolar plate-gasket assembly was prepared by inserting a previously prepared bipolar plate in the specially designed gasket mold. For this aim, a proprietary fluoro-silicone based rubber was injected directly into the bipolar plate borders. Gaskets obtained like this showed the chemically / physically stable and the good sealibilty in typically operating PEM fuel cell conditions. And also, this bipolar plate-gasket assembly shows lots of advantages with respect to traditional PEMFCs stack assembling systems: useful application to automative stacking due to easy handling, reduced fabrication time, possibility of quality control and failed elements substitution. This bipolar plate-gasket assembly was evaluated in the short fuel cell stack and met the leakage requirement for normal operation both in short-term and in long-term operation. Especially, it was confirmed that this gasket could be applied successfully even in the high pressure FEM fuel cell systems(over 2.0 bar in absolute pressure).

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.545-552
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• 2015

The heat generation in PEMFC is proportional to the electrical power output. Therefore, when the fuel cell produced the maximum output, the maximum heat was generated. In order to maintain the performance of the fuel cell, thermal management is as important as pressure and humidity conditions of the reactive gas. In this study, considering the thermal management for the maximum output operation, the optimal cooling channel design specifications of bipolar plate are found for the highest cooling performance. In the current bipolar plate research, many studies focused on analyzing various factors individually but there is no more study on the interaction between design factors. In this study, the heat transfer was simulated by COMSOL Multiphysics with the main design factors which are designated shape, width and rib length. One of the experimental design methods, general full factorial design method, was used to analyze the main factor and interaction on average temperature and maximum temperature for the design specification of fuel cell bipolar plate. When analysis result shows that all of these three factors are highly important, it can confirm that the interaction occurs between the factors.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 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
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.39-42
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• 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.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.105-108
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• 2006

The fuel cell is one of the promising environment-friendly energy sources for the next generation. The fuel cell provides good energy efficiency above 40% without pollution or noise. Different fuel cell types are usually distinguished by the kind of electrolyte. Among these, the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has advantages of high power density. low operating temperature, relatively quick start-up, and rapid response to varying loads. The bipolar plate is a major component of the PEM fuel cell stack, and it takes a large portion of stack volume, weight and cost. In this study, as alternative materials for bipolar plate of PEM fuel cells, graphite composites were fabricated by compression molding and by machining. Graphite particles mixed with epoxy resin were used as the main substance to provide electric conductivity. Flow channels were fabricated by compression molding with design of experiments (DOE) to evaluate moldability. The cost for compression molding of graphite-composite bipolar plate was compared with machining cost to make the same bipolar plate.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.415-420
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• 2010

This study is focused on the channel design of bipolar plate in the electrode of hydrogen gas generator. The characteristics of hydrogen gas generation was studied in view of efficiency of hydrogen gas generation rate and a tendency of gas flow through the riv design of electrode. Since the flow rate and flow pattern of generated gas in the two phase flow system are the most crucial in determining the efficiency of hydrogen gas generator, we adopted the commercial analytical program of COMSOL MultiphysicsTM to calculate the theoretical flow rate of hydrogen gas from the outlet of gas generator and flow pattern of two phase fluid in the electrode. In this study, liquid electrolyte flows into the bipolar plate and decomposed into gas phase, two phase flow simulation is applied to measure the efficiency of hydrogen gas generation.

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

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.152-156
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• 2010

This study is focused on the channel design of bipolar plate in the electrode of hydrogen gas generator. The characteristics of hydrogen gas generation was studied in view of efficiency of hydrogen gas generation rate and a tendency of gas flow through the riv design of electrode. Since the flow rate of generated gas is the most crucial in determining the efficiency of hydrogen gas generator, we adopted the commercial analytical program of COMSOL $Multiphysics^{TM}$ to calculate the theoretical flow rate of hydrogen gas from the outlet of gas generator.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.321-325
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• 2005

Bipolar plate is the main part with MEA in automotive PEMFC. It must have a good electrical conductivity and excellent corrosion resistance, be cost effective. Therefore, stainless steels have been studied by many researchers because of its corrosion resistance and cost benefits. But their properties are not sufficient for the application to bipolar plate for automotive PEMFC. In this work, we have performed stamping using various commercial stainless steels to select candidate material for biploar plate and to derive design parameters for stamping simulation. The results showed that a small curvature at the corner of flow field is more favorable due to easier a plastic deformation. Stamping process was simulated by changing surface condition, and the size and angle of channel. The optimum shape and spring back phenomena were evaluated. Surface coating was applied to increase the corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity of stainless steel. The electrical interfacial resistance was 10 to $15m{\Omega}cm^2$ under clamping force of 150psi. But corrosion resistance of coating on the stainless steel was not good due to the unstableness of microstructure.