Electrical and thermal contact resistance of porous fuel cell electrodes

多孔燃料电池电极的电接触热阻

• 批准号: 461961-2014
• 负责人: Djilali, Nedjib
• 金额: $ 0.91万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Engage Plus Grants Program
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=556512
• 关键词: Electrical; thermal; contact; resistance; porous

Mercedes-Benz Canada-Fuel Cell Division (MBC) is engaged in the production of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stacks for zero emission road vehicles. The operation of PEMFC stacks depends critically on the membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), a multilayered component at the core of a cell that facilitates several transport processes and the electrochemical energy conversion that generates electrical power. The interfaces between the porous MEA layers have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the transport processes and, in turn, on the performance, reliability and durability of an automotive fuel cell stack. This research builds on a previous Engage project to determine electrical and thermal contact resistance. The study focuses on the interface between two specific components of the MEA: the catalyst layer and the micro-porous layer. The methodology involves (i) characterization of the surface roughness and morphology of the porous fuel cell materials using laser scanning microscopy; (ii) computational reconstruction of the contacting porous media; (iii) contact mechanics modelling of the interface; and (iii) prediction of effective interfacial transport properties using pore-scale simulations. This research will contribute toward the long term goals of quantifying the impact of manufacturing and assembly tolerances on interfacial transport in production MEAs. The study will allow determination of electrical and thermal contact resistance as a function of compressive pressure; and examination of the impact of defects such as holes and cracks.

梅赛德斯-奔驰加拿大燃料电池部门（MBC）从事零排放道路车辆聚合物电解质膜燃料电池（PEMFC）电堆的生产。 PEMFC 堆栈的运行关键取决于膜电极组件 (MEA)，这是电池核心的多层组件，可促进多种传输过程和产生电力的电化学能量转换。多孔 MEA 层之间的界面对传输过程的有效性具有重大影响，进而对汽车燃料电池堆的性能、可靠性和耐用性产生重大影响。这项研究建立在之前的 Engage 项目的基础上，旨在确定接触电阻和热电阻。该研究的重点是 MEA 的两个特定组件之间的界面：催化剂层和微孔层。该方法包括（i）使用激光扫描显微镜表征多孔燃料电池材料的表面粗糙度和形态； (ii) 接触多孔介质的计算重建； (iii) 界面的接触力学建模； (iii) 使用孔隙尺度模拟预测有效的界面传输特性。这项研究将有助于实现量化制造和装配公差对生产 MEA 中界面传输的影响的长期目标。该研究将确定作为压缩压力函数的电接触热阻和热接触电阻；以及检查孔洞和裂纹等缺陷的影响。