Abstract
In this experimental work, the potential of utilizing the Phase change material (PCM) for the passive thermal management of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell (PEMFC) is explored. The development of a passive thermal management system for the fuel cell is essential to reduce the parasitic power consumed by the thermal management system. Stearyl alcohol as PCM which has a melting point of 59°C and an enthalpy of 260 J/g will be best suited for the portable fuel cell application operating around 60°C. Stearyl Alcohol kept inside the cooling plate as passive thermal management is studied and also utilized to improve the thermal management of an edge air cooling system. The power density applied to the Fuel cell thermal management system (FCTMS) is varied from 0.1 to 0.45 W/cm2 by a DC power supply. The FCTMS is tested in four modes of operation no cooling, with PCM, cooing with fan, and fan combined with PCM. The FCTMS with PCM can hold the temperature of the cooling plate below 60°C till the power density of 0.30 W/cm2 which is 20% higher compared to the FCTMS under no cooling. Further, the combination of PCM with air cooling improved its maximum power density applied by 14 % compared to the air cooling system.
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