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Fabrication of aluminum 1050 micro-channel proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plate using rubber-pad-forming process

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Abstract

The rubber-pad-forming process is used to fabricate a metallic bipolar plate made of aluminum 1050 for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. To determine the shape of the bipolar plate channel, the effects of the rib and channel cross-sections on the velocity field are investigated using the STAR-CCM + commercial computational fluid dynamics software. Air enters the cell through the bipolar plate and spreads throughout the cell, and a large quantity of air then uniformly permeates the membrane’s surface. The rate distribution of most of the chemical reactions occurring in the channels is determined in the final model. The designed bipolar plate is fabricated using a hydraulic press with a capacity of 200 t. The effects of various parameters such as the type of plate, plate thickness, punch speed, press pressure, rubber pad thickness, and rubber pad hardness are studied. Furthermore, the formability of the bipolar plate is evaluated in detail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School, Division of Mechanical and Precision Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea

    S. S. Lim & Y. T. Kim

  2. Engineering Research Center for Net Shape and Die Manufacturing, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea

    C. G. Kang

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Republic of Korea

    C. G. Kang

Authors
  1. S. S. Lim
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  2. Y. T. Kim
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  3. C. G. Kang
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Correspondence to C. G. Kang.

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Lim, S.S., Kim, Y.T. & Kang, C.G. Fabrication of aluminum 1050 micro-channel proton exchange membrane fuel cell bipolar plate using rubber-pad-forming process. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 65, 231–238 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4162-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-012-4162-8

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