Event Details
Rapid Prototype Development of PEM Fuel Cell Gas Delivery Plates
Presenter: Mr. Rong Zheng - Department of Mechanical Engineering
Supervisor:
Date: Thu, March 14, 2002
Time: 15:00:00 - 16:00:00
Place: EOW 230
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
This research focuses on new rapid prototype development techniques for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell gas delivery plates. The study addresses several key issues in the design, analysis and manufacturing of fuel cell plates.
The research extends the newly introduced screen-printing layer deposition manufacturing technique to complete the entire cycle of rapid plate development. A number of key issues on plate materials and the layer deposition process are addressed. A method for developing the conductive polymer composite used for the PEM fuel cell gas delivery plates is also introduced.
Modern design methods, including integrated computer modeling, structure and thermal analysis and computational fluid dynamics simulation, are used to soft-prototype the plate design. The performance tests cover fluid dynamics, nonlinear structure and thermal heat transfer aspects. The geometric and mathematical models are generated based on computational fluid dynamics, finite element structure and thermal analysis, respectively.
Design optimization is conducted using the virtual prototypes to improve the design of the flow field and the plate. Three disciplinary models are simulated and their results are subject to disciplinary optimizations. Global design optimization is carried out using multiple objective optimization, combining the functional performance measures from three disciplinary models. This multi-disciplinary optimization integrates performance considerations of PEM fuel cell plate, and provides guidelines to the plate development.
The research contributes to a new approach for the rapid development of fuel cell plates with a great potential to be applied to other mechanical parts. The study also extends the methodology of computational design and rapid prototyping.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
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For Further Information Please Contact: Rong Zheng (721-8923)