Effects of fibre orientations and flow channel patterns on the durability of composite bipolar plates used in PEMFCs

Abstract

Fuel cells which are electrochemical devices have gained popularity in last three decades as an alternative energy resource. Especially PEM fuel cells (proton exchange membrane or polymer electrolyte membrane) are one of the most developed fuel cell types and use in transportation (automotive) applications. Bipolar plates (BPs), on the other hand, responsible for distribution of reactant gases and collect of current in PEM fuel cell stack. Flow channels mill on bipolar plates for the purpose of distribution of gases to the fuel cell system. These flow channel patterns can be different types such as parallel, serpentine, grid, spiral, cascade. In addition, bipolar plates manufacture from graphite materials usually owing to its superior features such as high electrical conductivity high and corrosion resistance. Besides, they can be manufacture from metallic plates, alloys and composite materials. In present study, carbon/epoxy laminated composite BP models were prepared with four different flow channel patterns (parallel, serpentine, grid and spiral) and four different stacking sequences of reinforced plies. After, the effects of fibre orientations and flow channel patterns on the carbon/epoxy laminated composite BPs were investigated numerically under thermal loads. Deformations of the models and the stresses on the models were evaluated. ANSYS® is used to model the laminated composite models and to perform numerical thermal analysis. Warping of the BPs was determined by benchmarking intact and deformed models and the optimum flow channel pattern. © 2019 IEEE.