Abstract
Seals or gaskets are used in PEM fuel cells (PEMFC) or stacks to prevent leaking of the liquid and gas inside the cell. The fuel cells or the stacks are normally assembled with nuts and bolts or a combination of nuts, bolts, and springs. As the seal is typically made of polymers, the level of the compressive stress applied to the seal during long term operation of the fuel cell relaxes. In addition, the amount of compression applied to the seal may vary due to temperature changes during the fuel cell operation which arises from thermal expansion and contraction of all components in the cell. To understand the sealing force existed in a fuel cell during operation, all these factors must be fully understood. In this study, the compression of the seal in a PEMFC was investigated experimentally. Specifically the amount of compression was measured in-situ, i.e. immediately after the assembly and during the normal operation of the PEMFC. The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of the variation of compressive strain applied to the seal as the temperature of the PEMFC changes and cycles. This information is useful in estimating the sealing force in the cell and consequently the life of the seal.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
W.K. Lee, C.H. Ho, J.W.V. Zee, M. Murthy, J. Power Sources, l.84(1999)45–51.
H.S. Chu, C. Yeh, F. Chen, J. Power Sources, 123(2003)1–9.
D. Chu.,R. Jiang, J. Power Sources, 83(1999)128–133.
S. Giddey, F.T. Ciacchi, S. P. S. Badwal, J. Power Sources, 125(2004)155–165.
R. Jiang, D. Chu, J. Power Sources, 93(2001)25–31.
B. Zhang, X. Wang, Y. Song, P, First International Conference on Fuel Cell Development and Deployment, 2005.
S.J. Lee, C.D. Hsu, C.H. Huang, J. Power Sources, 145(2005)353-361.
Y.M. Ferng, Y.C. Tzang, B.S. Pei, C.C. Sun, A. Su, J. Hydrogen Energy,29(2004)381-391.
D. Liu, X. Lai, J. Ni, L. Peng, S.L. Lin, J. Power Sources, 172(2008)760-767.
R P Brown, Physical Testing of Rubber, 2006.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, J. W. Van Zee and W. K. Lee, J. Material Science & Engineering A, 445-446(2007)669-675.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, Xiaodong Li and J. W. Van Zee, J. Power Sources, 172(2007)782-789.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, Min Yang, C. T. William, and J. W. Van Zee, J. Power Sources, 17(2007)785-792.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, J. W. Van Zee, Xiaodong Li, Xinnan Wang, Min Yang, J. Material Science & Engineering A, 496(2008)464-470.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, Xiaodong Li and J. W. Van Zee, J. Fuel Cell Science and Technology, 2009.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, Min Yang, Woo-Kum Lee and J. W. Van Zee, J. Hydrogen Energy, 2009.
T Burton, J L DeLanaye, C P Rader, Rubber and Plastic News, 1988.
U Meier, J Kuster and J F Mandell, Rubber, Chem. Technol. 57, No.2, 1984.
R. Sprey, Rubber World, 191, No. 1, 1984.
C J. Derham, IRC’96 Conf., Manchester, June 17–21, 1996.
Jinzhu Tan, Y. J. Chao, Woo-Kum Lee and J. W. Van Zee, Journal of Pressure Equipment and Systems, 5(1) 2007, 1–7.
Fuel Cell Technologies, Inc. http://www.fuelcelltechnologies.com
S. Shimpalee ∗, S. Greenway, J.W. Van Zee, J. Power Sources, 160(2006) 398–406.
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coefficient_of_thermal_expansion
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Businees Media, LLC
About this paper
Cite this paper
Chien, CH., Lin, CW., Chao, YJ., Tong, C., Van Zee, J. (2011). Compression of Seals in PEM Fuel Cells. In: Proulx, T. (eds) Experimental Mechanics on Emerging Energy Systems and Materials, Volume 5. Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9798-2_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9798-2_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-9493-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-9798-2
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)