State-of-the-Art and Development Trends of Assembly Technologies for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack: A Review 2020-01-1175

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) uses hydrogen and oxygen for fuel, the whole energy conversion process almost has no negative impact on the environment. The PEM fuel cell stack with the advantages of low-operating temperature, high current density and fast start-up ability is considered to be the next generation of new electric vehicle power. However, due to the limited current output, it is difficult for a single cell to meet the practical application requirements. The actual fuel cell stack is formed by many single cells assembled together. The assembly process is often related to load transfer, material transfer, energy exchange, multi-phase flow, electrochemical reaction and other factors. The performance of MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly), sealing gaskets and other components will change during the assembly process, which makes the fuel cell stack assembly process more complex. The assembly load of large stack and the inside interface pressure homogeneity significantly affect the efficiency, stability and durability of the stack. Assembly technology of low efficiency and accuracy increases manufacturing costs of stack. Therefore, there is an urgent need for further research on stack assembly theory and technologies to improve stack assembly efficiency and reduce costs. Focusing on fuel cell stack assembly and based on the literature research method, key technologies on assembly are reviewed in its reasons and improvement strategies. Furthermore, the methods of improving assembly efficiency and the study on clamping load are summarized with a view of offering references for practical applications. Based on comprehensive analyses, this paper proposes the development trends of assembly key technologies for fuel cell stack, and provides helpful guidelines for fuel cell stack assembly.