Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Improving channel depth of stainless steel bipolar plate in fuel cell using process parameters of stamping

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study is dedicated to overcome the poor formability problem of thin stainless steel sheets used as bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Different parameters such as the sheet type (SUS 304 and SUS 316), sheet direction (rolling and transverse), load condition (static and dynamic), and heat treatment can be varied to adjust the channel depth in the bipolar plate. The channel of a bipolar plate is formed using static and dynamic loads and along different directions (rolling and transverse). The depth of the formed channel is about 0.18 mm, and the difference in channel depth from static and dynamic loads is small regardless of the sheet direction. The forming limitations due to the stainless steel hardening during the process can be solved through heat treatment. The channel of a bipolar plate formed with a heat-treated sheet is more than twice as deep as the one formed from a sheet without heat treatment and is more uniform. The formed channel is deeper with a dynamic load than a static load and in the transverse to rolling direction than in the rolling direction of sheet.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Tawfik H, Hung Y, Mahajan D (2007) Metal bipolar plates for PEM fuel cell—a review. J Power Sources 163:755–767

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Hermann A, Chaudhuri T, Spagnol P (2005) Bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells: a review. Int J Hydrog Energy 30:1297–1302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Jayakumar K, Pandiyan S, Rajalakshmi N, Dhathathreyan KS (2006) Cost-benefit analysis of commercial bipolar plates for PEMFC’s. J Power Sources 161:454–459

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Xianguo L, Imran S (2005) Review of bipolar plates in PEM fuel cells: flow-field designs. Int J Hydrog Energy 30:359–371

    Google Scholar 

  5. Jin CK, Kang CG (2011) Fabrication process analysis and experimental verification for aluminum bipolar plates in fuel cells by vacuum die-casting. J Power Sources 196:8241–8249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Matsuura T, Kato M, Hori M (2006) Study on metallic bipolar plate for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. J Power Sources 161:74–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Dundar F, Dur E, Mahabunphachai S, Koc M (2010) Corrosion resistance characteristics of stamped and hydroformed proton exchange membrane fuel cell metallic bipolar plates. J Power Sources 195:3546–3552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hung JC, Yang TC, Li KC (2011) Studies on the fabrication of metallic bipolar plates—using micro electrical discharge machining milling. J Power Sources 196:2070–2074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Davies DP, Adcock PL, Turpin M, Rowen SJ (2000) Stainless steel as a bipolar plate material for solid polymer fuel cells. J Power Sources 186:237–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Turan C, Cora ON, Koç M (2013) Investigation of the effects of process sequence on the contact resistance characteristics of coated metallic bipolar plates for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. J Power Sources 243:925–934

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mahabunphachai S, Cora ON, Koç M (2010) Effect of manufacturing processes on formability and surface topography of proton exchange membrane fuel cell metallic bipolar plates. J Power Sources 195:5269–5277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee SJ, Chen YP, Huang CH (2005) Electroforming of metallic bipolar plates with micro-featured flow field. J Power Sources 145:369–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Kwon HJ, Jeon YP, Kang CG (2013) Effect of progressive forming process and processing variables on the formability of aluminium bipolar plate with microchannel. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 64:681–694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Koo JY, Jeon YP, Kang CG (2013) Effect of stamping load variation on deformation behavior of stainless steel thin plate with microchannel. Proc IMechE B J Eng Manuf 227:1121–1128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Koo JY, Kim HH, Jeon YP, Kang CG (2014) Formability evaluation of microchannels of aluminum bipolar plate stamped under pulsating load. J Eng Mater Technol ASME 136:41004–41011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Jin CK, Koo JY, Kang CG (2014) Fabrication of stainless steel bipolar plates for fuel cells using dynamic loads for the stamping process and performance evaluation of a single cell. Int J Hydrog Energy 39:21461–21469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kim MJ, Jin CK, Kang CG (2015) The effect of different forming parameters on the depth of bipolar-plate channels in static- and dynamic-load stamping. Proc IMechE B J Eng Manuf. doi:10.1177/0954405414541104

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kim MJ, Jin CK, Kang CG (2014) Comparison of formabilities of stainless steel 316L bipolar plates using static and dynamic load stamping. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 75:651–657

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Mechanical and Precision Engineering, Pusan National University, San 30 Chang Jun-dong, Geum Jung-Gu, Busan, 609-735, South Korea

    Won Tae Park

  2. School of Mechanical Engineering, Kyungnam University, 7 Kyungnamdaehak-ro, Masanhappo-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea

    Chul Kyu Jin

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, San 30 Chang Jun-dong, Geum Jung-Gu, Busan, 609-735, South Korea

    Chung Gil Kang

Authors
  1. Won Tae Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chul Kyu Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chung Gil Kang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chung Gil Kang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Park, W.T., Jin, C.K. & Kang, C.G. Improving channel depth of stainless steel bipolar plate in fuel cell using process parameters of stamping. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 87, 1677–1684 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-016-8606-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-016-8606-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation