Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society (한국수소및신에너지학회논문집)

The Korean Hydrogen and New Energy Society (한국수소및신에너지학회)
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The Effect of Stack Clamping Pressure on the Performance of a Miniature PEMFC Stack

소형 고분자 연료전지 스택의 체결압력에 따른 성능 특성

  • 김병주 (한국에너지기술연구원 연료전지연구단) ;
  • 임성대 (한국에너지기술연구원 연료전지연구단) ;
  • 손영준 (한국에너지기술연구원 연료전지연구단) ;
  • 김창수 (한국에너지기술연구원 연료전지연구단) ;
  • 양태현 (한국에너지기술연구원 연료전지연구단) ;
  • 김영채 (한양대학교 화공학과)
  • Published : 2009.12.30
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Abstract

The effect of gas diffusion layer (GDL) compression caused by different stack clamping pressures on fuel cell performance was experimentally studied in a miniature 5-cell proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack. Three stacks with different GDL compressions, 15%, 35% and 50%, were prepared using SGL 10BC carbon fiber felt GDL and Gore 57 series MEA. The PEMFC stack performance and the stack stability were enhanced with increasing stack clamping pressure resulting in the best performance and stability for the stack with higher GDL compressions up to 50%. The excellent performance of the stack with high GDL compression was mainly due to the reduced contact resistance between GDL and bipolar plate in the stack, while reduced gas permeability of the excessively compressed GDL in the stack hardly affected the stack performance. The high stack clamping pressure also resulted in excessive GDL compression under the rib areas of bipolar plate and large GDL intrusion into the channels of the plate, which reduced the by-pass flow in the channels and increase gas pressure drop in the stack. It seems that these phenomena in the highly compressed stack enhance the water management in the stack and lead to the high stack stability.

Keywords

References

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