Redevelopment of quick coupling fixture for fuel cell performance evaluation

• Main Author: Zhang, Bin
• Other Authors: Chan Siew Hwa
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Energy conservation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/50110
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is one of the promising high efficiency and low emission electrical energy sources which are developing by researchers all over the world. Different membranes and catalysts need to be evaluated for their effects on the PEM fuel cell performance, which can be carried out in a specially designed fixture. The conventional performance testing fixtures require some tools with time-consuming assembling and disassembling processes. A previously developed quick coupling fixture solved some of the problems of the conventional fixture; however, it was not functional to meet the requirement. This project is to modify the previously developed fixture, including redesign, fabricate and test the fixture. In addition, a force sensor is installed on the fixture to enable a simultaneously monitor of the pressure applied on the membranes by the hydraulic jack. The details of the design, material selection, fabrication, assembly and final testing are documented in this report.