Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC).

Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). PDF Author: Yuhua Wang
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780494234860
Category : Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Languages : en
Pages : 171

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Book Description
The research is focused on designing, prototyping, and testing carbon-filled thermoplastic composites with high electrical conductivity, as well as suitable mechanical and process properties.

Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC).

Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). PDF Author: Yuhua Wang
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780494234860
Category : Proton exchange membrane fuel cells
Languages : en
Pages : 171

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Book Description
The research is focused on designing, prototyping, and testing carbon-filled thermoplastic composites with high electrical conductivity, as well as suitable mechanical and process properties.

Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)[br][br].

Conductive Thermoplastic Composite Blends for Flow Field Plates for Use in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC)[br][br]. PDF Author: Yuhua Wang
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Thermoplastic Composites for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Thermoplastic Composites for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates PDF Author: Taylor Jacob Mali
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Development of Electrically Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for Bipolar Plate Application in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Development of Electrically Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for Bipolar Plate Application in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell PDF Author: Rungsima Yeetsorn
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 248

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Book Description
Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have the potential to play a major role as energy generators for transportation and portable applications. One of the current barriers to their commercialization is the cost of the components and manufacturing, specifically the bipolar plates. One approach to preparing PEMFCs for commercialization is to develop new bipolar plate materials, related to mass production of fuel cells. Thermoplastic/carbon filler composites with low filler loading have a major advantage in that they can be produced by a conventional low-cost injection molding technique. In addition, the materials used are inexpensive, easy to shape, and lightweight. An optimal bipolar plate must possess high surface and bulk electronic conductivity, sufficient mechanical integrity, low permeability, and corrosion resistance. However, it is difficult to achieve high electrical conductivity from a low-cost thermoplastic composite with low conductive filler loading. Concerns over electrical conductivity improvement and the injection processability of composites have brought forth the idea of producing a polypropylene/three-carbon-filler composite for bipolar plate application. The thesis addresses the development of synergistic effects of filler combinations, investigating composite conductive materials and using composite bipolar plate testing in PEMFCs. One significant effect of conductive network formation is the synergetic effects of different carbon filler sizes, shapes, and multiple filler ratios on the electrical conductivity of bipolar plate materials. A polypropylene resin combined with low-cost conductive fillers (graphite, conductive carbon black, and carbon fibers with 55 wt% of filler loading) compose the main composite for all investigations in this research. Numerous composite formulations, based on single-, two-, and three-filler systems, have been created to investigate the characteristics and synergistic effects of multiple fillers on composite conductivity. Electrical conductivity measurements corresponding to PEMFC performance and processing characteristics were investigated. Experimental work also involved other ex-situ testing for the physical requirements of commercial bipolar plates. All combinations of fillers were found to have a significant synergistic effect that increased the composite electrical conductivity. Carbon black was found to have the highest influence on the increase of electrical conductivity compared to the other fillers. The use of conjugated conducting polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy) to help the composite blends gain desirable conductivities was also studied. Electrical conductivity was significantly improved conductivity by enriching the conducting paths on the interfaces between fillers and the PP matrix with PPy. The conductive network was found to have a linkage of carbon fibers following the respective size distributions of fibers. The combination of Fortafil and Asbury carbon fiber mixture ameliorated the structure of conductive paths, especially in the through-plane direction. However, using small fibers such as carbon nanofibers did not significantly improve in electrical conductivity. The useful characteristics of an individual filler and filler supportive functions were combined to create a novel formula that significantly improved electrical conductivity. Other properties, such as mechanical and rheological ones, demonstrate the potential to use the composites in bipolar plate applications. This research contributes a direction for further improvement of marketable thermoplastic bipolar plate composite materials.

Bio-inspired Design, Fabrication and Testing of Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells

Bio-inspired Design, Fabrication and Testing of Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells PDF Author: Nannan Guo
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biomimetics
Languages : en
Pages : 173

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Book Description
"The flow field of a bipolar plate distributes reactants for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and removes the produced water from the fuel cells. It greatly influences the performance of fuel cells, especially the concentration losses. Two approaches were developed to improve flow field designs in this dissertation. One is inspired by the biological circulatory structures and called bio-inspired designs, which have great potential to transport reactant efficiently and hence improve fuel cell performance. Another way is using a network-based optimization model to optimize the conventional flow field configurations, i.e., pin-type, parallel and serpentine designs, to improve flow distributions within the channels. A three-dimensional, two-phase numerical model was developed to investigate the mass, velocity and pressure distributions within the different flow fields and also the final fuel cell performance. Selective Laser Sintering, which provides a cost- and time-efficient way to build parts with complicated geometries, was used to fabricate graphite composite bipolar plates with these developed designs. Different graphite materials, including natural graphite, synthetic graphite, carbon black, and carbon fiber, were investigated in order to achieve higher electrical conductivity and flexural strength of the fabricated bipolar plates. Experimental testing of the PEM fuel cells with these fabricated bipolar plates was carried out to verify the numerical model and compare the performance for different flow field designs. Both the numerical and experimental results demonstrated that the bio-inspired designs and the optimized designs could substantially improve the fuel cell performance compared to the traditional designs"--Abstract, page iv.

Development of Hybrid Composite Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Development of Hybrid Composite Bipolar Plates for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells PDF Author: Nathaniel James Richie
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Composite materials
Languages : en
Pages : 94

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Book Description
"Bipolar plates are one of the most expensive components of a PEM fuel cell and by far the heaviest. Bipolar plates are responsible for providing flow fields for reaction gases, acting as current collectors for electrons liberated during the chemical reaction inside the cell, and providing structural support for the fuel cell stack. Current PEM fuel cell bipolar plate technology is built on the use of sintered graphite which is costly and requires time-consuming machining. Furthermore, due to the brittle nature of graphite, plates must be made relatively thick which adds significant weight and volume to larger stacks, such as those required for automobiles. Hybrid composite bipolar plates were developed with the goal of providing an alternative material which offers sufficient conductivity, corrosion resistance, and mechanical strength. A conductive resin system using epoxy, polyaniline, carbon black, and milled carbon fibers was developed to serve as a matrix for continuous carbon fiber reinforcement which enhanced both strength and conductivity above what is possible to achieve through the use of chopped fibers. The developed conductive resin system showed a high glass transition temperature (above 180°C) and tensile strength greater than or equal to 41 MPa. The developed hybrid composite material showed conductivity greater than 100 S/cm and excellent tensile and flexural strength, far exceeding industry targets"--Abstract, leaf iii.

Electrical Conductivity in Polymer-Based Composites

Electrical Conductivity in Polymer-Based Composites PDF Author: Reza Taherian
Publisher: William Andrew
ISBN: 012812542X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 432

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Book Description
Electrical Conductivity in Polymer-Based Composites: Experiments, Modelling and Applications offers detailed information on all aspects of conductive composites. These composites offer many benefits in comparison to traditional conductive materials, and have a broad range of applications, including electronic packaging, capacitors, thermistors, fuel cell devices, dielectrics, piezoelectric functions and ferroelectric memories. Sections cover the theory of electrical conductivity and the different categories of conductive composites, describing percolation threshold, tunneling effect and other phenomena in the field. Subsequent chapters present thorough coverage of the key phases in the development and use of conductive composites, including manufacturing methods, external parameters, applications, modelling and testing methods. This is an essential source of information for materials scientists and engineers working in the fields of polymer technology, processing and engineering, enabling them to improve manufacture and testing methods, and to benefit fully from applications. The book also provides industrial and academic researchers with a comprehensive and up-to-date understanding of conductive composites and related issues. Explains the methods used in the manufacture and testing of conductive composites, and in the modeling of electrical conductivity Contains specialized information on the full range of applications for conductive composites, including conductive adhesives or pastes Brings scientists, engineers and researchers up-to-date with the latest advances in the field

Hybrid Polymer Composite Bipolar Plates for Fuel Cell Power Plants

Hybrid Polymer Composite Bipolar Plates for Fuel Cell Power Plants PDF Author: Ahmed Saib Naji Al-alawi
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Fuel cells
Languages : en
Pages : 211

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Book Description
Using unclean fuels such as fossil fuel has many consequences including global warming and environmental pollution. Nowadays, searching for the clean, sustainable and cheap energy source is increasing. Many suggestions have been put on the table; among them, fuel cell technology represents the most promising one. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are the most common ones used widely in various applications ranging from portable batteries to the fuel cell power plants. PEMFC is still expensive, heavy and not efficient enough to be available in the markets in a cost-effective manner. The main part of the fuel cell which is involved with these problems is the bipolar plate (BPP). Therefore, the US Department of Energy (DOE) has suggested a list of requirements for the BPP to commercialize the PEMFC. Up-to-date, different types of BPP have been developed using several material types. Among these materials, conductive polymer composites (CPCs) have shown great promises owing to their outstanding combination of the required proportions.In this study, CPC materials based on polycarbonate and hybrid carbon-based fillers were manufactured using three different technologies: solution casting, melt mixing with singular polymer and melt mixing with a blend of polymers. The results showed that the dispersion and distribution of the conductive filler play an important role in controlling the morphological, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the percolation threshold of the singular and hybrid filler systems and the localization of the fillers within the matrix are important factors governing various properties. The results showed that the solution casting can yield light CPCs but they do not still qualify to manufacture BPP, because of their low conductivities and poor mechanical properties. The melt mixing approach for singular polymer matrix provided a significant improvement in the conductivities and the mechanical properties over the solution casting CPCs. However, the melt mixing of the singular polymer is still challenging due to the required high filler loads. Using a plasticizer with this technology proved an effective solution toward increasing filler load and enhancing various properties. Finally, CPCs fabricated using melt mixing of polymer blends exhibited the best combination of various physical and mechanical properties suitable for BPP performance.

Highly Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for Rapid Production of Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Highly Conductive Thermoplastic Composites for Rapid Production of Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
A low cost method of fabricating bipolar plates for use in fuel cells utilizes a wet lay process for combining graphite particles, thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers to produce a plurality of formable sheets. The formable sheets are then molded into a bipolar plates with features impressed therein via the molding process. The bipolar plates formed by the process have conductivity in excess of 150 S/cm and have sufficient mechanical strength to be used in fuel cells. The bipolar plates can be formed as a skin/core laminate where a second polymer material is used on the skin surface which provides for enhanced conductivity, chemical resistance, and resistance to gas permeation.

Development of a Conducting Multiphase Polymer Composite for Fuel Cell Bipolar Plate

Development of a Conducting Multiphase Polymer Composite for Fuel Cell Bipolar Plate PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Carbon fibers
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
On account of their lightweight, low-cost, corrosion resistance, and good formability, conductive polymer composites (CPCs) are promising for the production bipolar plate (BP) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, a high conductive filler loading is needed to impart the required level of electrical conductivity to the insulating polymer matrix and as a consequence, the toughness of the plate deteriorates considerably. By using immiscible blend of polymers that have complementary hardness and ductility as matrix, with conducting multi-fillers of different morphologies, it is possible to optimize the matrix strength characteristics and favour the formation of conducting network to produce CPC meeting BP performance standards. Of course, a lot will depend on the formulation of the most favourable composition and production variables.