In the automotive and e-mobility industries, maintaining the cleanliness of bipolar plates during fuel cell manufacturing is essential.
These plates are crucial for converting hydrogen into electrical energy, and even minor contaminants—such as microparticles, dust, or laser-cutting residues—can significantly affect the fuel cell’s performance. As a result, thorough cleaning processes, especially steam cleaning, are a critical component of their production.
Rea Steam Cleaning, thanks to its experience and internal know-how, has patented an in-line washing system specific for bipolar plates.
Advantages of Steam Cleaning for Bipolar Plates
Steam cleaning provides an advanced, non-abrasive method for effectively removing contaminants from bipolar plates. Utilizing high-temperature, high-pressure steam, this process ensures thorough cleaning of the intricate flow field designs, leaving the plates entirely free of debris.
Key benefits of steam cleaning for bipolar plates include:
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Compact Installation:
Steam cleaning systems, such as those integrated into tunnel washers, require minimal space—typically up to 300 cm in length—and can seamlessly integrate into existing production lines.
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Rapid Processing Time:
The cleaning process is highly efficient, taking just 3 to 6 seconds per plate, making it ideal for high-throughput production lines.
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Sustainability and Efficiency:
With sequential washing cycle operations, water consumption is minimized, generating less wastewater to treat. This enhances sustainability while optimizing operational efficiency.
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Low Maintenance:
The system is designed for minimal upkeep, requiring no filters or monitoring of bath quality, providing a dependable solution for industrial-scale production.
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Consistent and Reliable Cleaning:
Steam, by its nature, is always clean and stable, ensuring uniform and high-quality results across all plates. Steam cleaning stands out as an efficient, environmentally friendly, and reliable option for maintaining the performance and durability of bipolar plates in fuel cell production.
The Critical Role of Bipolar Plate Cleanliness in Fuel Cell Performance
Bipolar plates, typically fabricated from graphite composites or metallic alloys, serve as essential components in fuel cell systems by facilitating uniform distribution of reactant gases (hydrogen and oxygen), enabling efficient water management, and ensuring effective thermal regulation. However, residual contaminants—such as particulate matter, laser-cutting byproducts, or machining residues—pose a significant risk to these functionalities. The presence of foreign particulates can obstruct gas diffusion channels, impede water evacuation, and degrade surface coatings designed to mitigate corrosion, ultimately compromising fuel cell efficiency, power output, and operational longevity.
In automotive fuel cell applications, where stringent performance, reliability, and durability standards must be met, achieving a high level of surface cleanliness is imperative. Even nanoscale impurities can disrupt electrochemical processes, leading to voltage losses, increased degradation rates, and reduced overall system efficiency. As a result, advanced precision cleaning techniques, particularly high-purity steam cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning, are critical to ensuring the integrity of bipolar plates and sustaining long-term fuel cell performance.
Cleaning Process of Bipolar Plates
In the image it is explain the process:
1) The Bipolar plates arrive from the production line and are depositated on the entry belt (red belt). This belt is motorized and speed is adjustable.
2) When the Bipolar plates enters the cleaning station, it is pressed down by a pneumatic cylinder that will keep it firmly against the driving belts (green belts). A matching plan (blue) will keep the plate flat and prevent it from being deformed by the pressure of the upper rolls. The speed of the green belt is the same that the speed of the red belt. This speed is set up to the required quantity of plates that must be cleaned in 1 minute
3) If necessary, detergent is sprayed on the plate – In some cases detergent is not necessary, this depends upon the contamination of the plate, the speed, the required level of cleanliness
4) and 5) Steam is sprayed on the plate and suction is active to extract the steam. No steam comes out during the cleaning process
6) An air blade will remove the water droplets that have not been extracted by the suction
7) If necessary hot air is blown on the plate to make sure they are perfectly dry after cleaning
8) The bipolar plates are clean and dry and can be directed to the next operation
