Clamping effects on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

The endplate is a critical component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) that significantly influences its performance. This study investigated the effects of various endplate parameters on PEMFC performance by examining the bolt distribution (4a, 8a, 8b), clamping torque (1, 5, and 9 Nm), and end-plate material (Delrin, aluminum, and stainless steel). Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize these parameters, with the aim of maximum paper-pressure compression ratio to achieve optimal performance. Additionally, a software was developed in CANVA to analyze the paper-pressure compression ratio using numerical data. The results indicated that applying the maximum torque to a stainless-steel endplate with the 8b bolt placement leads to the most homogeneous pressure distribution within the cell. Our findings highlight that optimizing endplate parameters leads to a more efficient design and enhances PEMFC performance.