Thermal and Coolant Flow Computational Analysis of Cooling Channels for an Air-Cooled PEM Fuel Cell

Abstract:

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are clean electrical power generators for applications normally up to 100 kW power requirements. It has the advantage of fast start-up due to its low operating temperatures of 60oC to 100oC. However, the low temperature requirement has to be addressed with an efficient thermal management system. For an air-cooled PEM fuel cell, cooling channels with a straight rectangular configuration are widely applied. This work establishes a computational methodology for the analysis of coolant flow mechanics related to the channel geometry for a specific bipolar plate size. The velocity and thermal gradient, average velocity rise factor (AVRF) and total cooling rates were determined from Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation based on initial coolant Reynolds number of approximately 250 to 750 with a steady heat flow of 82W. All geometries showed nearly 100% cooling capability respective to the heat load, but differ in the aspects of average plate temperature achieved, its temperature profile as well as existing gradient. From the analytical perspective of thermo fluids engineering, the selection criteria of suitable micro cooling channel configurations, depending on operating priority, was established.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 110-116)
• Pages: 2746-2753
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.110-116.2746
• Online since: October 2011
• Authors: W.A.N. W. Mohamed, M.F. Remeli, A.H.A. Hamid, R. Atan
• Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Cooling, PEM Fuel Cell, Thermal Analysis

References

[1] C.Y. Wen and G.W. Huang, Application of a thermally conductive pyrolytic graphite sheet to thermal management of a PEM fuel cell, J. Power Sources, vol. 178 (1), pp.132-140, (2008).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.12.040

[2] Dhathathreyan, K.S. and Rajalakshmi, N., Polymer Electrolyte Membrane fuel cell : Recent trends in fuel cell science and technology, Sudshawatsu B., Eds. India: Anamaya Publications, 2007, pp.76-77.

DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-68815-2_3

[3] Y.T. Sin, W.A. Najmi W. M. and Rahim A., Current and possible future applications of hydrogen fuel cell in Malaysia, Proceedings of the Int. Conf. on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME) 2009, Malaysia.

[4] Maher, A.R. and Haroun, A.K., 2007. Modeling optimizes PEM fuel cell performance using three-dimensional multi-phase computational fluid dynamics model, Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 48, pp.3102-3119, (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2007.05.007

[5] Faghri and Z. Guo, Challenges and opportunities of thermal management issues related to fuel cell technology and modeling, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 48, pp.3891-3920, (2005).

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2005.04.014

[6] W.A. Najmi W. M. and Rahim A., Optimizing air cooling capability of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells through case-by-case cooling channel analysis, Proceedings of the Int. Conf. on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME) 2009, Malaysia.

[7] L.J. Bonville, H.R. Kunz, Y. Song, A. Mientek, M. Williams, A. Ching, and J.M. Fenton, Development and demonstration of a higher temperature PEM fuel cell stack, J. Power Sources, vol. 144, pp.107-112, (2005).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2004.12.056

[8] J. Scholta, M. Messerschmidt, L. Jorissen, and C. Hartnig, Externally cooled high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack, J. Power Sources, vol. 190, pp.83-85, (2009).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2008.10.124

[9] K. P Adzakpa, J. Ramousse, Y. Dube, H. Akremi, K. Agbossou, M. Dostie, A. Poulin, and M. Fournier, Transient air cooling thermal modeling of a PEM fuel cell, J. Power Sources, vol. 179, pp.164-176 (2008).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2007.12.102