Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Failure Behavior of Graphite Based Composite Bipolar Plate of PEM Fuel Cell

Fuel cells are a means of producing electricity. A major component of these cells is bipolar plate. The objectives of this study are to investigate and analyze how the fracture of composite bipolar plates of polymer fuel cells under conditions and the effect of bending loads by experimental and numerical methods. In the numerical method, at first the geometric model and finite element of the structure were created using Abaqus software and the strength and bending behavior analyzes were obtained to determine the failure threshold loads. Then, after preparation of the samples, an experimental test, a three-point bending analysis and a tensile analysis were carried out on them. Finally, the results of the numerical and experimental analysis of the bending behavior of the bipolar plate were compared.A fuel cell is an electro-chemical generator that converts the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electric energy. Fuel cell has many applications in various fields, including transportation, power plants, military industries, etc. In recent years, extensive studies were conducted by various individuals to study fuel cell performance and improve fuel cell efficiency [۱]. Afshari and jazayeri [۲] analyzed the performance of the fuel cell. In this study, after numerical analysis, a two-dimensional numerical model and two phases of polymer fuel cell are presented and for different working conditions such as humidity percentage, flow rate, temperature and inlet gas pressure on cell performance were investigated. Davar et al [۳] studied the amount and efficiency of increasing the efficiency of the polymer fuel cell system as a result of using the ejector in the fuel supply circuit. Chen et al [۴] conducted a study to prepare graphite / resin-based bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells.For static load analysis, both static and quasi-static analysis is used for finite element modeling and experimental beam analysis. In this analysis, the maximum bending force of the beam is investigated. The three-point bending test is carried out with a static load.Bending test simulations have been performed in Abaqus software In this experiment, rectangular cross-section specimens were used as beams. The specimens will be placed on two supports at a certain distance. Then, with the help of a mandrel from above and in the middle of these two supports, the force enters the center of the beam at a speed of ۰.۵ mm per minute and the beam rises. By measuring the rise of the beam and the force applied to it, the amount of flexural strength and flexural modulus can be determined. Figure ۱ shows the test steps and Figure ۲ shows the test results.