Innovative Design and Manufacture of MEA and Bipolar Plate

本研究的主要目标是通过膜电解质组件（MEA）和双极板的设计和制造，构建一种创新的PEM燃料电池。这项研究将与位于不列颠哥伦比亚省温哥华的Palcan电力系统公司合作进行。在过去的十年中，质子交换膜（PEM）燃料电池动力系统引起了加拿大政府和研究人员的极大关注。PEM燃料电池由于其纯氢零排放的特点，已成为未来汽车最有前途的动力源。然而，PEM燃料电池设计存在寿命短、成本高、性能低等问题，尽管其实际效率通常高于内燃机。因此，要实现PEM燃料电池的商业化，必须对PEM燃料电池进行显著的创新设计。我们将通过使用数值和实验方法来测试我们的设计来接近我们的主要目标。我们将改进并应用我们自己的三维数学模型（具有内置水气界面跟踪的多相，多组分，详细的电化学子模型）和我们自己的实验设施来设计和优化PEM燃料电池。结合仿真工具和实验测试设备，可以获得更准确的结果，并可以优化更多的操作条件。将根据数值和实验结果选出最佳设计方案。质子交换膜燃料电池的创新设计将由一个组件一个组件地实现。预计这项研究将显著影响PEM燃料电池的商业化进程，并迅速将这种清洁技术付诸实践。预计我们的研究成果将为加拿大燃料电池产业带来巨大的经济效益，从而为加拿大人提供更多的就业机会。由于PEM燃料电池技术的清洁性质，PEM燃料电池的成功商业化也将为所有加拿大人提供显著的环境效益。

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.