Improving channel depth of stainless steel bipolar plate in fuel cell using process parameters of stamping. Issue 5 (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Park, Won; Jin, Chul; Kang, Chung
• Is Part Of: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology. Volume 87:Issue 5/8(2016)
• Page Start: 1677
• Page End: 1684
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Bipolar plate -- Stainless steel -- Stamping -- Formability -- Heat treatment; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Production engineering -- Periodicals; 670.427
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-016-8606-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-3768

Abstract

Abstract This study is dedicated to overcome the poor formability problem of thin stainless steel sheets used as bipolar plates of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Different parameters such as the sheet type (SUS 304 and SUS 316), sheet direction (rolling and transverse), load condition (static and dynamic), and heat treatment can be varied to adjust the channel depth in the bipolar plate. The channel of a bipolar plate is formed using static and dynamic loads and along different directions (rolling and transverse). The depth of the formed channel is about 0.18 mm, and the difference in channel depth from static and dynamic loads is small regardless of the sheet direction. The forming limitations due to the stainless steel hardening during the process can be solved through heat treatment. The channel of a bipolar plate formed with a heat-treated sheet is more than twice as deep as the one formed from a sheet without heat treatment and is more uniform. The formed channel is deeper with a dynamic load than a static load and in the transverse to rolling direction than in the rolling direction of sheet.