Stress and plastic deformation of MEA in running fuel cell

Bograchev, D. A.; Gueguen, Mikaël; Grandidier, Jean-Claude; Martemianov, S.

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.06.066

Cited by 49 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The importance of this factor has been discussed by Lee et al [101]. A correct choice for the bolt torque (8 Nm) allows obtaining well reproducible results for each type of MEA used in our experiments as it was showed in previous works [102,103].…”

Section: Ii4 Optimization Of the Membrane-electrode Assemblysupporting

confidence: 53%

Do not forget the electrochemical characteristics of the membrane electrode assembly when designing a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stack

Lamy

Jones

Coutanceau

et al. 2011

Electrochimica Acta

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International audienceThe membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is the key component of a PEMFC stack. Conventional MEAs are composed of catalyzed electrodes loaded with 0.1-0.4 mgPt cm−2 pressed against a Nafion® membrane, leading to cell performance close to 0.8 W cm−2 at 0.6 V. Due to their limited stability at high temperatures, the cost of platinum catalysts and that of proton exchange membranes, the recycling problems and material availability, the MEA components do not match the requirements for large scale development of PEMCFs at a low cost, particularly for automotive applications. Novel approaches to medium and high temperature membranes are described in this work, and a composite polybenzimidazole-poly(vinylphosphonic) acid membrane, stable up to 190 ◦C, led to a power density of 0.5 W cm−2 at 160 ◦C under 3 bar abs with hydrogen and air. Concerning the preparation of efficient electrocatalysts supported on a Vulcan XC72 carbon powder, the Bönnemann colloidal method and above all plasma sputtering allowed preparing bimetallic platinum-based electrocatalysts with a low Pt loading. In the case of plasma deposition of Pt nanoclusters, Pt loadings as low as 10 g cm−2 were achieved, leading to a very high mass power density of ca. 20 kW g−1 Pt . Finally characterization of the MEA electrical properties by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) based on a theoretical model of mass and charge transport inside the active and gas diffusion layers, together with the optimization of the operating parameters (cell temperature, humidity, flow rate and pressure) allowed obtaining electrical performance greater than 1.2 W cm−2 using an homemade MEA with a rather low Pt loading

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Section: Ii4 Optimization Of the Membrane-electrode Assemblysupporting

confidence: 53%

Do not forget the electrochemical characteristics of the membrane electrode assembly when designing a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stack

Lamy

Jones

Coutanceau

et al. 2011

Electrochimica Acta

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“…Accordingly, in the rest of the paper we shall restrict the displacement in the y direction (u y 0) at the lower boundary of the porous layer. The assembly process will be modeled as an imposed vertical displacement at the top of the rib, since due to the high Young's modulus of the gaskets (in the order of GPa [46,47]) the Fig. 1 e Schematic of the modeling domain showing the coordinate system, the boundary conditions, and the notation used for the rib half-width, w rib , the GDL thickness, t GDL , and the distance between the rib and channel symmetry planes, w GDL .…”

Section: Geometry and Boundary Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

García-Salaberri

Vera

Zaera

2011

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

115

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Keywords:PEM fuel cells Assembly pressure Gas diffusion layers Inhomogeneous compressionNonlinear orthotropic model a b s t r a c t PEM fuel cell assembly pressure is known to cause large strains in the gas diffusion layer (GDL), which results in significant changes in its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. These changes affect the rates of mass, charge, and heat transport through the GDL, thus impacting fuel cell performance and lifetime. The appropriate modeling of the inhomogeneous GDL compression process associated with the repetitive channel rib pattern is therefore essential for a detailed description of the physical chemical processes that take place in the cell. In this context, the mechanical characterization of the GDL is of special relevance, since its microstructure based on carbon fibers has strongly nonlinear orthotropic properties. The present study describes a new finite element model which fully incorporates the nonlinear orthotropic characteristics of the GDL, thereby improving the prediction of the inhomogeneous compression effects in this key element of the cell. Among other conclusions, the numerical results show that the linear isotropic models widely reported in the literature tend to overestimate the porosity and the partial intrusion of the GDL in the channel region, and may lead to incorrect predictions in terms of interfacial contact pressure distributions.

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“…However, the materials and the structures of MEA do not cause enough attention and optimization. Bograchev et al [3,4] employed the finite element analysis (FEA) to investigate the mechanical stresses in MEA arising in cell assembly and running procedures. The heterogeneous stresses in membrane under the junction seal joint/graphite plate had been observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Frame Materials and Structures on Stress Concentration of Membrane Electrode Assembly of PEMFCs

Ye¹,

Zhan²,

Lee³

et al. 2013

Fuel Cells

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A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is one of the core components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) comprising a catalyst coated membrane, gas diffusion electrodes, frames, and seals. By employing a 2D finite element model the mechanical stresses in membrane caused during the cell assembly procedure are analyzed for different MEA frame materials, frame structures and contact behaviors. The stress distributions in the membrane are presented and quantified. A zone with strong nonuniform stresses in the membrane under the end edge of frame/membrane is observed. The stepped frames assembly (SFA) and the bonded contact behaviors have more uniform stress distributions than the aligned frames assembly (AFA) does. The frame materials are not the main factors affecting the stress concentration in membrane for the SFA, while for the AFA the mechanical properties of frame materials should be close to those of the membrane. The results are expected to be helpful for people to select the frame materials and to design frame structures, and can be applied to guide the assembly of PEMFCs.

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Stress and plastic deformation of MEA in running fuel cell

Cited by 49 publications

References 15 publications

Do not forget the electrochemical characteristics of the membrane electrode assembly when designing a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stack

Do not forget the electrochemical characteristics of the membrane electrode assembly when designing a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell stack

Nonlinear orthotropic model of the inhomogeneous assembly compression of PEM fuel cell gas diffusion layers

Effects of Frame Materials and Structures on Stress Concentration of Membrane Electrode Assembly of PEMFCs

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