Fabrication and Performance Analysis of PEM Fuel Cells with Different Bipolar Plate Materials

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system is an advanced power system for the future that is sustainable, clean and environmental friendly. The flow channels present in bipolar plates of a PEMFC are responsible for the effective distribution of the reactant gases. Uneven distribution of the reactants in a PEMFC can cause variations in current density, temperature, and water content over the area of a PEMFC. The materials and machining methods for PEMFC bipolar plates are of ultimate importance as they constitute more than 60% of the weight and 30% of the total cost in a fuel cell stack. This work investigates how the performance of the PEMFC varies with different bipolar plate materials. Here graphite is used as bipolar plate with flow channels machined in them. The experiments were carried out in a single cell PEMFC. The results are to be compared with Stainless steel, Aluminum and brass bipolar plates.