Endplate Design and Topology Optimization of Fuel Cell Stack Clamped with Bolts

The endplate plays an important role in the performance and durability of fuel cell stacks, and also to mass power density. Aiming at a lightweight endplate and uniform deflection of the endplate, the purpose of this study is to model the endplate including the supply, discharge ports and the distribution manifolds. The stress and displacement distribution of the endplate are also analyzed by numerical simulation. After that, the three optimized topologies aiming to minimize compliance, uniform stress distribution and two objectives coupling are discussed, and the intake endplate and blind endplate are individually reconstructed. The mass of optimized intake endplate is reduced by 35%, and the mass of optimized blind endplate is reduced by 46% for the goal of attaining a lightweight endplate, while maintaining the uniformity of the stress distribution of the first cell next to the endplate. Considering these factors, optimized endplates are obtained, which are valuable to fuel cell stack design.