Cost model for bipolar plate manufacture

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis gives a cost model for the manufacture of bipolar plates in SouthAfrica. The methods for the manufacture considered are machining, using amicro-milling machine, and compression moulding. The focus of this thesis is oncompression moulding. Details of the work done towards developing andvalidating the models are described, and then the cost models are discussed indetail. The results of the analysis done using the cost model is given with attentionpaid to the effect of changing design parameters, such as channel size and flowfield area, and of the cost of production for both methods over various productionvolumes.The thesis concludes that compression moulding becomes the better option forproduction volumes greater than 324 bipolar plates, with a cost that eventuallyreaches close to R140 per plate for high enough production volumes (over 5000).The cost to produce 1000 plates using compression moulding is estimated at R294per plate. An increase of the channel size gives a small reduction in the total cost,while the increase in cost with an increase in flow field area is large.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University