FUEL CELL PLATE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE
FUEL CELL INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA
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FUEL CELL PLATE MATERIALS AND MANUFACTURE FUEL CELL INSTITUTE UNIVERSITI KEBANGSAAN MALAYSIA |
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Introduction | |||
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The polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a promising candidate as zero-emission power source for transport and stationary cogeneration applications due to its high efficiency, low temperature operation, high power density, and converting fuel to water as the only by product. The challenges for (PEM) fuel cell technology for automobiles lie in reducing the cost and weight of the fuel stack, an impediment to which is the cost and weight of the bipolar plate. The bipolar plate is the electrode plate that separates individual cells in a stack. A stack is formed when multiple cells are aligned one after another so as to work in series, with the bipolar plate providing an electrode for the cells on either side. The reference material for the bipolar plate is high-density graphite with machined flow channels. Both material and machining costs for graphite, however, are prohibitive for many fuel cell applications, and this has led to substantial development efforts to replace graphite. The requirements for a bipolar plate are stringent, including low-cost materials and processing, light weight, thin (<3mm), sufficient mechanical integrity, high surface and bulk electronic conductivity, low permeability (boundary between fuel and oxidant), and high corrosion resistance (in the moist atmosphere of the cell). The BPs have the following functions to perform: (1) To distribute the fuel and oxidant within the cell; (2) To facilitate water management within the cell; (3) To separate individual cells in the stack; (4) To carry current away from the cell; (5) To facilitate heat management. Conversion to clean energy sources such as (PEM) fuel cell would enable the world to improve the quality of life throughout the planet Earth, not only for humans, but also for its flora and fauna as well. Because of the foregoing, there is a need to develop an ingenious method of PEM fuel cell conversion systems and then to substitute it where applications of fossil fuels are most vulnerable. |
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Head of FCPMM |
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Bipolar Plate |
Prof. Dr. Jaafar Sahari |
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Contact us Fuel Cell Institute Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 43600, Bangi Malaysia Telp : 03-89216502/6038 Fax : 03-89216024
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How do Fuel Cells Work |
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Last updated 20 January 2013 |
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