Innovative Design and Manufacture of MEA and Bipolar Plate

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The main objective of the proposed research is to build an innovative PEM fuel cell through the design and manufacture of Membrane Electrolyte Assembly (MEA) and bipolar plate. The research will be conducted in collaboration with Palcan Power Systems Inc. at Vancouver, BC. Over the last decade, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell power systems have attracted significant attention from the Canadian government and researchers. Because of its zero-emission feature with pure hydrogen, the PEM fuel cell has become the most promising power source for future vehicles. However, PEM fuel cell designs suffer from short lifetime, high cost, and low performance, although their practical efficiency is usually higher than that of the internal combustion engine. Therefore, significantly innovative design of PEM fuel cells is a must to achieve the commercialization of PEM fuel cells. We will approach our main objective by using both numerical and experimental methods to test our designs. We will improve and apply our own 3-dimensional mathematical model (with multi-phase with built-in water-gas-interface tracking, multi-component, detailed electro-chemical sub-models) and our own experimental facility to PEM fuel cell design and optimizations. With both the simulation tool and experimental testing facility, more accurate results can be obtained, and more operating conditions can be optimized. The best of the designs will be selected based on both the numerical and experimental results. The innovative design of PEM fuel cell will be achieved component by component. It is expected that this research will significantly influence PEM fuel cell commercialization processes and quickly bring this clean technology to fruition. It is also expected that our research results will bring great economical benefits to Canada's fuel cell industry thereby providing more job opportunities for Canadians. Successful commercialization of PEM fuel cells will also provide significant environmental benefits to all Canadians due to the clean nature of PEM fuel cell technology.