Feasible Analysis of Pulsating Heat Pipe Applied to Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC), as a new power generation method with high efficiency, cleanness and no pollution, has broad development prospects, but it’s thermal management problems need to be solved urgently. This paper uses ANSYS Fluent software, based on the VOF model and PHMPC model, uses the unsteady state method to simulate PEMFC without pulsating heat pipe and PEMFC with pulsating heat pipe, respectively, to study the temperature distribution law inside PEMPC. The results show that the temperature at PEMFC channel is the highest, about 68°C. Compared with PEMPC without pulsating heat pipe, it is found that the temperature of PEMPC channel decreases by about 12°C. Therefore, the pulsating heat pipe can reduce the internal working temperature of PEMFC. The simulation results can provide a theoretical basis for future experiments.