Study of Contact Pressure Distribution in Bolted Encapsulated Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assembly

Gui Ren, Yanfeng Xing (), Juyong Cao, Ying Wang, Linfa Peng and Xuelong Miao
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Gui Ren: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Yanfeng Xing: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Juyong Cao: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Ying Wang: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China
Linfa Peng: School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
Xuelong Miao: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai 201620, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-18

Abstract: The distribution of contact pressure on the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) significantly affects the performance of a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). This paper establishes a PEM fuel cell model to investigate the impact of bolt load and its distribution, sealing gasket hardness, and size on the magnitude and distribution of contact pressure on the MEA during assembly. Thermal–mechanical coupling is employed to simulate the thermal effects resulting from chemical reactions under operational conditions. The findings reveal that there is an extremum of pressure uniformity in the range of 5000 to 6250 N for bolt loads. When the average bolt load is lower than this extremum, altering the distribution of the load can effectively enhance the uniform distribution of contact pressure. Stiffer gaskets reduce the contact pressure on the MEA while increasing the pressure on the gasket itself, resulting in reduced deformation. A rational matching relationship among gaskets, Gas Diffusion Layers (GDLs), and seal grooves is proposed. During operational conditions, thermal effects decrease the sealing performance and also impact the magnitude and distribution of contact pressure on the MEA. These outcomes provide significant guidance for the assembly and performance evaluation of PEMFCs.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC); membrane electrode assembly (MEA); contact pressure; thermal–mechanical coupling; bolt load; gasket (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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