Experimental determination of NiFe2O4-water nanofluid thermophysical properties and evaluation of its potential as a coolant in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract

Heat is generated as a byproduct of the electrochemical reactions of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. This heat raises the temperature of the system, and if it is not properly removed from the cell, it can cause membrane damage and overheating. Thermal management is thus critical for PEM fuel cell stability, efficiency, and safety. This paper investigates the potential use of NiFe2O4-water nanofluid as a novel coolant for PEM fuel cells. To determine the nanofluid thermophysical properties, an experimental study for different mass% concentrations of NiFe2O4-water nanofluid is first performed. Then, a three-dimensional CFD model is built to demonstrate the effect of nanofluid use on the thermal performance of a cooling plate. Simulation results show that replacing water with 0.5% NiFe2O4 nanofluid improves temperature uniformity by 11.97%. Furthermore, nanofluid cooling reduces maximum surface temperature by up to 0.75 °C while increasing pressure drop by 5.6%, implying higher pumping power.