FEM Numerical Simulation And Optimization Of The Stamping Of Metallic Polar Plate For Fuel Cell

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has a lot of virtues, such as high power density, high-energy efficiency, low-temperature operation, fast start-up and zero-emission, so it is the most probable to apply in automobile, bus, electrical equipment, portable power and stationary product, and it has a very good foreground.Bipolar plates of PEMFC are one of the critical components which have a major impact not only on the performance of the stack but also on the cost and have been choke points of industrialization. Metal materials are used for polar plate to reduce cost and improve performance.In this paper, the polar plate is formed by stamping process. One cycle of the flow channels'stamping FEM models are established in two cases:rigid dies stamping and rubber pad stamping. The forming scheme of laboratory preparation is selected by the analysis of deformation characteristics and failure modes.The experiment scheme is simulated by two simplified FEM models. Then choose one by the comparison of effective stress, effective strain and thickness distribution results. Two groups of flow channel's key parameters (fillet radius of ridge and draft angle of slide wall) are designed for FEM simulations to check out their influences of the stamping.At last, the whole FEM model is established to simulate the stamping process of a metal polar plate with single snake-like channel. The effective strain, the effective stress and filling law are analyzed in the cross sections of different regions. The deformation characteristics can be summarized and the mode and position of failure can be forecasted. The accuracy of FEM model is confirmed by experiments.The results in this paper provide reliable design foundation for the deformation of bipolar plates with 400mmx 100mm active area.