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Modeling, design, materials and fabrication of bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A review

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  • Xiong, Kangning
  • Wu, Wei
  • Wang, Shuangfeng
  • Zhang, Lin

Abstract

Bipolar plate is one of the most significant components of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell, which serves as the function of reactant gases supply, reaction products removal, current collection, structural support and so on. How to obtain superior bipolar plate, including uniform gas distribution, good water management, lower pressure drop, higher power density, lower cost, high mechanical strength, and easy fabricating, has become a technical challenge and future trend. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of major findings of researches on modeling, flow field design, materials, and fabricating process of bipolar plate in recent year. The results demonstrate that the three-dimensional, steady-state, multi-phase, computational fluid dynamics model have become the most popular simulation method to assess the flow field design of bipolar plate. Also, the influencing factors, such as channel-land (rib) dimensions, baffles and flow channel shape, are considered as the significant elements that guide the flow field design and affect the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell. In addition, due to lower interfacial contact resistance, better corrosion resistance and lower cost, the coated stainless steel bipolar plates have shown greater advantages and potentialities in comparison to other bipolar plates. Four common fabricating methods are proposed to solve the metal plate processing problem. Finally, this review is expected to provide the guidance for the future development of bipolar plates.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiong, Kangning & Wu, Wei & Wang, Shuangfeng & Zhang, Lin, 2021. "Modeling, design, materials and fabrication of bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:301:y:2021:i:c:s0306261921008333
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117443
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    3. Zhang, Jian & Huang, Pengyi & Ding, Honghui & Xin, Dongqun & Sun, Shufeng, 2023. "Investigation of the three-dimensional flow field for proton exchange membrane fuel cell with additive manufactured stainless steel bipolar plates: Numerical simulation and experiments," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Yan, Wei-Mon & Lin, Jian-Cheng & Chen, Chen-Yu & Amani, Mohammad, 2023. "Performance evaluation of TiN/Ti coatings on the aluminum alloy bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    5. Zhou, Yu & Chen, Ben, 2023. "Investigation of optimization and evaluation criteria for flow field in proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    6. Ji-Seong Kim & Keon-Soo Kim & Do-Young Kim & Min Heo & Kap-Seung Choi, 2022. "Effect of Rotational Control for Accelerating Water Discharge on the Performance of a Circular Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-14, April.
    7. Gong, Fan & Yang, Xiaolong & Zhang, Xun & Mao, Zongqiang & Gao, Weitao & Wang, Cheng, 2023. "The study of Tesla valve flow field on the net power of proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 329(C).
    8. Mao, Xiaoyu & Li, Yifan & Hu, Xiufeng & Tian, Runping & Yu, Wei, 2023. "Expanded graphite (EG)/Ni@Melamine foam (MF)/EG sandwich-structured flexible bipolar plate with excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and gas permeability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    9. Chul Kyu Jin & Jae Hyun Kim & Bong-Seop Lee, 2022. "Powder Bed Fusion 3D Printing and Performance of Stainless-Steel Bipolar Plate with Rectangular Microchannels and Microribs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-15, November.
    10. Hossein Pourrahmani & Majid Siavashi & Adel Yavarinasab & Mardit Matian & Nazanin Chitgar & Ligang Wang & Jan Van herle, 2022. "A Review on the Long-Term Performance of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: From Degradation Modeling to the Effects of Bipolar Plates, Sealings, and Contaminants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-30, July.
    11. Zhang, Zhuo & Wang, Qi-yao & Bai, Fan & Chen, Li & Tao, Wen-quan, 2023. "Performance simulation and key parameters in-plane distribution analysis of a commercial-size PEMFC," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).

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