Design and Optimization of a Closed Two Loop Thermal Management Configuration for PEM Fuel Cell Using Heat Transfer Modules

Abstract

Thermal Management is vital for the sustained performance of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell at its optimal operating conditions. One of the impediments in developing such thermal management system for a PEM fuel cell in vehicular applications is weight, volume and parasitic power constraints of the thermal management system. An issue with closed loop system is the heat addition from fuel cell into the cooling loop. This heat can be subdued by the use of heat transfer modules like plate heat exchanger (PHE) and radiators in the loop. In the present study a thermal management system is designed which can remove heat from the fuel cell to ambient effectively and allow the stack to operate at a peak power of 1.5kWelec conditions for more than 60 minutes of duration. Coolant flow rate optimization and thermal management configuration design are conducted to increase the heat transfer from fuel cell. The average thermal power removed by the coolant from the fuel cell for all the thermal management configurations has been calculated. A relation between the average thermal power, flow rate and thermal management circuit has been established.