Segmented thermal resistance model of flat-plate CLPHP based on PEMFC cooling

Abstract

As a passive heat transfer superconductor for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) cooling, the heat transfer performance and temperature uniformity of flat-plate closed loop pulsating heat pipe (CLPHP) are the key factors to determine its application efficiency. Based on the geometric structure and working medium thermophysical properties of flat-plate CLPHP, this study establishes segmented and integral thermal resistance theoretical models for the heat transfer properties of each section of the flat-plate CLPHP. The calculation accuracy of the segmented and integral thermal resistance models is compared through experimental verification. The results show that the segmented thermal resistance model's temperature variation and temperature uniformity are more accurate than that of the integral thermal resistance model when the flat-plate CLPHP is started, operated stably, or at higher heating power. However, the model calculation error is relatively large when the heating power is relatively high at 400 W, but the calculation accuracy of the segmented thermal resistance model in temperature and temperature uniformity is 2.32 and 5.99 times that of the integral thermal resistance model. The segmented thermal resistance model provides a theoretical basis for improving the calculation accuracy of flat-plate CLPHP coupled PEMFC cooling.