TY - JOUR
T1 - Free vibration analysis of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
AU - Ahmed, H. E.U.
AU - Banan, R.
AU - Zu, J. W.
AU - Bazylak, A.
PY - 2011/7/1
Y1 - 2011/7/1
N2 - A free vibration analysis of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is performed by modelling the PEMFC as a 20 cm × 20 cm composite plate structure. The membrane, gas diffusion electrodes, and bi-polar plates are modelled as composite material plies. Energy equations are derived based on Mindlin's plate theory, and natural frequencies and mode shapes of the PEMFC are calculated using finite element modelling. A parametric study is conducted to investigate how the natural frequency varies as a function of thickness, Young's modulus, and density for each component layer. It is observed that increasing the thickness of the bi-polar plates has the most significant effect on the lowest natural frequency, with a 25% increase in thickness resulting in a 17% increase in the natural frequency. The mode shapes of the PEMFC provide insight into the maximum displacement exhibited as well as the stresses experienced by the single cell under vibration conditions that should be considered for transportation and stationary applications. This work provides insight into how the natural frequencies of the PEMFC should be tuned to avoid high amplitude oscillations by modifying the material and geometric properties of individual components.
AB - A free vibration analysis of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is performed by modelling the PEMFC as a 20 cm × 20 cm composite plate structure. The membrane, gas diffusion electrodes, and bi-polar plates are modelled as composite material plies. Energy equations are derived based on Mindlin's plate theory, and natural frequencies and mode shapes of the PEMFC are calculated using finite element modelling. A parametric study is conducted to investigate how the natural frequency varies as a function of thickness, Young's modulus, and density for each component layer. It is observed that increasing the thickness of the bi-polar plates has the most significant effect on the lowest natural frequency, with a 25% increase in thickness resulting in a 17% increase in the natural frequency. The mode shapes of the PEMFC provide insight into the maximum displacement exhibited as well as the stresses experienced by the single cell under vibration conditions that should be considered for transportation and stationary applications. This work provides insight into how the natural frequencies of the PEMFC should be tuned to avoid high amplitude oscillations by modifying the material and geometric properties of individual components.
KW - Composite layers
KW - Free vibrations
KW - Mode shapes
KW - Natural frequency
KW - PEMFC
KW - Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.10.112
DO - 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2010.10.112
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955466331
SN - 0378-7753
VL - 196
SP - 5520
EP - 5525
JO - Journal of Power Sources
JF - Journal of Power Sources
IS - 13
ER -