Open Cell Metal Foam as Extended Coolant Surface – Fuel Cell Application

Abstract

AbstractConsisting of randomly oriented cells with nearly uniform shapes, open cell metal foams are considered to be reliable in heat transfer applications. Numerical tools and experimental tests were applied to assess the thermo‐hydraulic behavior of aluminum metal foam sheet adjacent to the heated wall in role of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell end plate. Convective cooling media passing through the metal foam sheet carries heat being conducted through the plate and metal foam matrix. The plate with constant heat flux is considered to be the heat source in both numerical and experimental approaches. Numerical model was applied for simulation of the metal foam sheet through porous media assumptions. The experimental set up was also assembled to verify the theory. The comparison between the numerical results and experimental data revealed acceptable agreement. The porosity percentage, heat flux, the metal foam sheet height and the coolant media velocity were the investigated variables. Finally, the result showed that the outlet temperature would increase straightly with the porosity percentage decrement. Whilst, on the other hand the pressure drop decreased by porosity enhancement.