Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells
Thin stamped bipolar plates (BPPs) are viewed as promising alternatives to traditional graphite BPPs in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Metallic BPPs provide good thermal/electrical conductivity and exhibit high mechanical strength, to support the loads within the stack. However, BPPs manufactu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Metals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/7/810 |
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| author | Diogo M. Neto Marta C. Oliveira José L. Alves Luís F. Menezes |
| author_facet | Diogo M. Neto Marta C. Oliveira José L. Alves Luís F. Menezes |
| author_sort | Diogo M. Neto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thin stamped bipolar plates (BPPs) are viewed as promising alternatives to traditional graphite BPPs in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Metallic BPPs provide good thermal/electrical conductivity and exhibit high mechanical strength, to support the loads within the stack. However, BPPs manufactured by stamping processes are prone to defects. In this study, the effect of the tool’s geometry on the thin sheet formability is investigated through finite element simulation. Despite the broad variety of flow field designs, most of BPPs comprise two representative zones. Hence, in order to reduce the computational cost, the finite element analysis is restricted to these two zones, where the deformation induced by the stamping tools is investigated. The channel/rib width, the punch/die fillet radii, and the channel depth are the parameters studied. The analysis is conducted for a stainless steel SS304 with a thickness of 0.15 mm. The results show that the maximum value of thinning occurs always in the U-bend channel section, specifically in the fillet radius of the die closest to the axis of revolution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:26:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e78982094bf4eeda52bfeae38fc4208 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4701 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T04:26:39Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Metals |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e78982094bf4eeda52bfeae38fc42082022-12-21T19:53:29ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012019-07-019781010.3390/met9070810met9070810Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel CellsDiogo M. Neto0Marta C. Oliveira1José L. Alves2Luís F. Menezes3CEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-788 Coimbra, PortugalCEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-788 Coimbra, PortugalCMEMS, Microelectromechanical Systems Research Unit, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058 Guimarães, PortugalCEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pinhal de Marrocos, 3030-788 Coimbra, PortugalThin stamped bipolar plates (BPPs) are viewed as promising alternatives to traditional graphite BPPs in proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Metallic BPPs provide good thermal/electrical conductivity and exhibit high mechanical strength, to support the loads within the stack. However, BPPs manufactured by stamping processes are prone to defects. In this study, the effect of the tool’s geometry on the thin sheet formability is investigated through finite element simulation. Despite the broad variety of flow field designs, most of BPPs comprise two representative zones. Hence, in order to reduce the computational cost, the finite element analysis is restricted to these two zones, where the deformation induced by the stamping tools is investigated. The channel/rib width, the punch/die fillet radii, and the channel depth are the parameters studied. The analysis is conducted for a stainless steel SS304 with a thickness of 0.15 mm. The results show that the maximum value of thinning occurs always in the U-bend channel section, specifically in the fillet radius of the die closest to the axis of revolution.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/7/810numerical simulationstampingformabilitymetallic bipolar platefuel cells |
| spellingShingle | Diogo M. Neto Marta C. Oliveira José L. Alves Luís F. Menezes Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells Metals numerical simulation stamping formability metallic bipolar plate fuel cells |
| title | Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells |
| title_full | Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells |
| title_fullStr | Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells |
| title_short | Numerical Study on the Formability of Metallic Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells |
| title_sort | numerical study on the formability of metallic bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane pem fuel cells |
| topic | numerical simulation stamping formability metallic bipolar plate fuel cells |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/9/7/810 |
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