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Development of Carbon Composite Bipolar Plates for PEMFC

양성자 교환막 연료전지용 탄소 복합재료 분리판 개발

  • Lim, Jun Woo (Graduate School of Flexible and Printable Electronics, LANL-CBNU Engineering Institute)
  • Received : 2019.10.08
  • Accepted : 2019.10.31
  • Published : 2019.10.31

Abstract

The proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system has many potential uses as an environmentally friendly power source. Carbon fiber composite bipolar plates are highly corrosion resistant and have high specific strength and stiffness in acidic environments, however, the relatively low electrical conductivity is a major issue which reduces the efficiency of PEMFC. In this study, electrically conductive particles (graphite powder and carbon black) are applied to carbon-epoxy composite prepregs to reduce the electrical resistance of the bipolar plates. The electrical resistance and mechanical properties are measured using conventional test methods, and a unit cell performance evaluation of developed carbon composite bipolar plates is performed to compare with the conventional bipolar plate.

양성자 교환막 연료전지 (PEMFC) 시스템은 환경 친화적인 전력 공급원으로 많은 잠재적 용도를 가지고 있다. 탄소섬유 복합재료 분리판은 산성환경에서 내부식성이 우수하며 높은 비강도와 비강성을 갖지만, 상대적으로 낮은 전기전도도로 인하여 PEMFC의 효율을 떨어뜨린다. 본 연구에서는 분리판의 전기 저항을 감소시키기 위하여 전기 전도성 입자(흑연 분말과 카본 블랙)를 탄소-에폭시 복합재료 프리프레그에 도포하였다. 전기 저항과 기계적 특성을 기존의 시험 방법을 사용하여 측정하였으며, 개발된 탄소 복합재료 분리판의 단위 셀 성능평가를 실시하여 기존의 분리판과 비교하였다.

Keywords

References

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