Nanofluid as Cooling Medium in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell: A Study on Potentials and Possibilities

Abstract

Keywords:Thermal management; PEM fuel cell;NanofluidAbstract. Tremendous need for an optimum conversion efficiency of a Polymer Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) operation has triggered varieties of advancements namely on the thermal management engineering scope. Excellent heat dissipation is correlated to higher performance of a fuel cell thus increasing its conversion efficiency. This study reveals the potential advancement in thermal engineering of a fuel cell stack related to nanofluid technology. Nanofluids are seen as a potential evolution of nanotechnology hybridisation with fuel cell serving as a cooling medium. The thermophysical characteristics have been reviewed and challenges with regards to fuel cell application is discussed. Nanofluid has been successfully tested on many thermal management systems isolated from thermoelectrical environments such as fuel cell. The main challenge is formulating a nanofluid coolant with high thermal conductivity but with strict limit on electrical conductivity of less than 5 μS/cm. Lack of electrical conductivity data for various nanofluids in open literature is another challenge in nanofluid application in fuel cell.