Computational Study of Edge Cooling for Open-Cathode Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Stacks

In open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) stacks, a significant temperature rise can exist due to insufficient cooling, especially at higher current densities. To improve stack thermal management while reducing the cost of cooling, we propose a forced air-convection open-cathode fuel cell stack with edge cooling (fins). The impact of the edge cooling is studied via a mathematical model of the three-dimensional two-phase flow and the associated conservation equations of mass, momentum, species, energy, and charge. The model includes the stack, ambient, fan, and fins used for cooling. The model results predict better thermal management and stack performance for the proposed design as compared to the conventional open-cathode stack design, which shows potential for practical applications. Several key design parameters—fin material and fin geometry—are also investigated with regard to the stack performance and thermal management.

[1]  Félix Barreras,et al.  Design and development of the cooling system of a 2 kW nominal power open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack , 2012 .

[2]  A. Mujumdar,et al.  A novel flow reversal concept for improved thermal management in polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks , 2012 .

[3]  S. Kandlikar,et al.  A critical review of cooling techniques in proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks , 2012 .

[4]  A. Mujumdar,et al.  Numerical evaluation of various thermal management strategies for polymer electrolyte fuel cell stac , 2011 .

[5]  Félix Barreras,et al.  Experimental study of the pressure drop in the cathode side of air-forced Open-cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cells , 2011 .

[6]  C. Wen,et al.  Thermal management of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with pyrolytic graphite sheets and , 2011 .

[7]  Attila Husar,et al.  Development and experimental validation of a dynamic thermal and water distribution model of an open cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell , 2011 .

[8]  Arun S. Mujumdar,et al.  Numerical Investigation of Liquid Water Cooling for a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Stack , 2011 .

[9]  A. S. Mujumdar,et al.  Computational study of forced air-convection in open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks , 2010 .

[10]  Stephan Schmid,et al.  Fuel cells for automotive powertrains―A techno-economic assessment , 2009 .

[11]  C. Wen,et al.  Performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with thermally conductive pyrolytic graphite sheets for thermal management , 2009 .

[12]  Jinfeng Wu,et al.  An air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell with combined oxidant and coolant flow , 2009 .

[13]  Ay Su,et al.  Experimental evaluation of an ambient forced-feed air-supply PEM fuel cell , 2008 .

[14]  Won-Yong Lee,et al.  Operating characteristics of 40 W-class PEMFC stacks using reformed gas under low humidifying conditions , 2008 .

[15]  C. Wen,et al.  Application of a thermally conductive pyrolytic graphite sheet to thermal management of a PEM fuel cell , 2008 .

[16]  C. M. Rangel,et al.  High performance PEMFC stack with open-cathode at ambient pressure and temperature conditions , 2007 .

[17]  Alexander Wokaun,et al.  Thermal analysis and optimization of a portable, edge-air-cooled PEFC stack , 2007 .

[18]  D. Chu,et al.  Comparative studies of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack and single cell , 1999 .

[19]  A. S. Mujumdar,et al.  Fan selection and stack design for open-cathode polymer electrolyte fuel cell stacks , 2012 .