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A 3-D Numerical Simulation of Temperature Distribution across the Contact Surface of a Small-scale Hot Press Machine for PEFC Applications |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Title | A 3-D Numerical Simulation of Temperature Distribution across the Contact Surface of a Small-scale Hot Press Machine for PEFC Applications |
| Creator | Naren Chaithanee |
| Contributor | Patcharawat Charoen-amornkitt, Kotchakarn Nantasaksiri, Nuttapol Limjeerajarus |
| Publisher | Thai Society of Mechanical Engineers |
| Publication Year | 2557 |
| Keyword | PEFC, Membrane electrode assembly, Hot press machine, Temperature distribution, Numerical simulation |
| Abstract | The polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) is one of the most promising renewable energy converters for future power generation. To make a high performance PEFC, membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which is the heart of a PEFC, must be assembled at appropriate conditions (pressure and temperature). The most common method of PEFC MEA assembly is the hot press method by which the temperature of contact surfaces of a hot press machine must be controlled to be uniformly distributed at the glass transition temperature of a Nafion polymer. However, the contact surfaces are required to be as smooth as possible, and thus no thermocouple can be placed on the contact surfaces. Therefore, in this study, a 3-D numerical simulation has been developed on ANSYS software to study the temperature distribution across a contact surface of a small-scale hot press machine specifically designed and developed in our laboratory. The accuracy of the model was validated with experimental data obtained from thermocouple-placeable points around the pressing block. Finally, for PEFC MEA applications, a suitable waiting time required to ensure the uniform temperature distribution across the 49 cm2 in the middle of the contact surface was suggested to be 1250 s. |
