Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The use of phase-change cooling strategy in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A numerical study

  • Article
  • Published:
Science China Technological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Thermal management is considered a critical issue in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), since it not only influences the cell performance but also impacts PEMFC’s reliability and durability. With the ever-increasing power density of PEMFC, traditional cooling approaches including air cooling and water cooling become difficult to meet the demand for high-power heat dissipation. Therefore, phase-change cooling is proposed for fuel cell application in this work, and the potential advantages are discussed and demonstrated via a mathematical model incorporating phase-change heat transfer. The thermal management performance is evaluated by temperature uniformity, maximum temperature difference, and the cooling capacity to compare the difference between phase-change cooling and traditional methods, which demonstrates that phase-change cooling owns a greatly improved thermal management performance. In addition, a simple method to broaden the operating temperature of phase-change cooling based on one certain coolant is offered, which is pressurizing in the coolant channel to regulate the boiling temperature that could further improve the application feasibility of phase-change cooling strategy in fuel cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Yang Y, Gao X Q, Song W, et al. Altering membrane structure to enhance water permeability and performance of anion exchange membrane fuel cell. Sci China Tech Sci, 2021, 64: 414–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Wu Y N, Liao S J, Wang K N, et al. High pressure organic colloid method for the preparation of high performance carbon nanotube-supported Pt and PtRu catalysts for fuel cell applications. Sci China Tech Sci, 2010, 53: 264–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yan X, Lin C, Zheng Z, et al. Effect of clamping pressure on liquid-cooled PEMFC stack performance considering inhomogeneous gas diffusion layer compression. Appl Energy, 2020, 258: 114073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhao J, Jian Q, Huang Z. Experimental study on heat transfer performance of vapor chambers with potential applications in thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Appl Thermal Eng, 2020, 180: 115847

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Lin L, Zhang X X, Feng H T, et al. Optimization of a serpentine flow field with variable channel heights and widths for PEM fuel cells. Sci China Tech Sci, 2010, 53: 453–460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Liu Y, Tu Z, Chan S H. Applications of ejectors in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A review. Fuel Process Tech, 2021, 214: 106683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Yan X, Li X, Fu C, et al. Large specific surface area S-doped Fe-N-C electrocatalysts derived from metal-organic frameworks for oxygen reduction reaction. Prog Nat Sci-Mater Int, 2020, 30: 896–904

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Yue L, Wang S, Araki T, et al. Effect of water distribution in gas diffusion layer on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2021, 46: 2969–2977

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen H, Guo H, Ye F, et al. An experimental study of cell performance and pressure drop of proton exchange membrane fuel cells with baffled flow channels. J Power Sources, 2020, 472: 228456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Lu X, Kanghong D, Guo L, et al. Optimal estimation of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell model parameters based on extended version of crow search algorithm. J Cleaner Production, 2020, 272: 122640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhao J, Huang Z, Jian B, et al. Thermal performance enhancement of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cells by vapor chambers. Energy Convers Manage, 2020, 213: 112830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Peng Y, Yan X, Lin C, et al. Effects of flow field on thermal management in proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks: A numerical study. Int J Energy Res, 2021, 45: 7617–7630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen L, Lin R, Tang S, et al. Structural design of gas diffusion layer for proton exchange membrane fuel cell at varying humidification. J Power Sources, 2020, 467: 228355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Luo L, Huang B, Cheng Z, et al. Improved water management by alternating air flow directions in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. J Power Sources, 2020, 466: 228311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Li W Z, Yang W W, Wang N, et al. Optimization of blocked channel design for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell by coupled genetic algorithm and three-dimensional CFD modeling. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2020, 45: 17759–17770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Chen C Y, Su J H, Ali H M, et al. Effect of channel structure on the performance of a planar membrane humidifier for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2020, 163: 120522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Bao Z, Niu Z, Jiao K. Gas distribution and droplet removal of metal foam flow field for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Appl Energy, 2020, 280: 116011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Wang X, Qin Y, Wu S, et al. Numerical and experimental investigation of baffle plate arrangement on proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance. J Power Sources, 2020, 457: 228034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Luo L, Huang B, Bai X, et al. Temperature uniformity improvement of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack with ultra-thin vapor chambers. Appl Energy, 2020, 270: 115192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ju H, Meng H, Wang C Y. A single-phase, non-isothermal model for PEM fuel cells. Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2005, 48: 1303–1315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Ravishankar S, Arul Prakash K. Numerical studies on thermal performance of novel cooling plate designs in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stacks. Appl Thermal Eng, 2014, 66: 239–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Mahjoubi C, Olivier J C, Skander-mustapha S, et al. An improved thermal control of open cathode proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2019, 44: 11332–11345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Zhang G, Jiao K. Multi-phase models for water and thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: A review. J Power Sources, 2018, 391: 120–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Yuan W W, Ou K, Kim Y B. Thermal management for an air coolant system of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell using heat distribution optimization. Appl Thermal Eng, 2020, 167: 114715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee J, Gundu M H, Lee N, et al. Innovative cathode flow-field design for passive air-cooled polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell stacks. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2020, 45: 11704–11713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Saygili Y, Eroglu I, Kincal S. Model based temperature controller development for water cooled PEM fuel cell systems. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40: 615–622

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Pei H, Shen J, Cai Y, et al. Operation characteristics of air-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks under ambient pressure. Appl Thermal Eng, 2014, 63: 227–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhao X, Li Y, Liu Z, et al. Thermal management system modeling of a water-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2015, 40: 3048–3056

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Ramezanizadeh M, Nazari M A, Ahmadi M H, et al. A review on the approaches applied for cooling fuel cells. Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2019, 139: 517–525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Zhang G, Yuan H, Wang Y, et al. Three-dimensional simulation of a new cooling strategy for proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack using a non-isothermal multiphase model. Appl Energy, 2019, 255: 113865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Tetuko A P, Shabani B, Andrews J. Thermal coupling of PEM fuel cell and metal hydride hydrogen storage using heat pipes. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2016, 41: 4264–4277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Mayyas A R, Ramani D, Kannan A M, et al. Cooling strategy for effective automotive power trains: 3D thermal modeling and multi-faceted approach for integrating thermoelectric modules into proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2014, 39: 17327–17335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Soupremanien U, Le Person S, Favre-Marinet M, et al. Tools for designing the cooling system of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. Appl Thermal Eng, 2012, 40: 161–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Alizadeh E, Rahgoshay S M, Rahimi-Esbo M, et al. A novel cooling flow field design for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell stack. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2016, 41: 8525–8532

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Afshari E, Ziaei-Rad M, Dehkordi M M. Numerical investigation on a novel zigzag-shaped flow channel design for cooling plates of PEM fuel cells. J Energy Institute, 2017, 90: 752–763

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Yan W M, Zeng M S, Yang T F, et al. Performance improvement of air-breathing proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks by thermal management. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2020, 45: 22324–22339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Odabaee M, Mancin S, Hooman K. Metal foam heat exchangers for thermal management of fuel cell systems—An experimental study. Exp Thermal Fluid Sci, 2013, 51: 214–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Zakaria I, Mohamed W A N W, Azmi W H, et al. Thermo-electrical performance of PEM fuel cell using Al2O3 nanofluids. Int J Heat Mass Transfer, 2018, 119: 460–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Islam M R, Shabani B, Rosengarten G. Electrical and thermal conductivities of 50/50 water-ethylene glycol based TiO2 nanofluids to be used as coolants in PEM fuel cells. Energy Procedia, 2017, 110: 101–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Fuel Cells, School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    XiaoHui Yan, YiMeng Peng, YuanTing Shen, ShuiYun Shen, JieWei Yin & JunLiang Zhang

  2. MOE Key Laboratory of Power Machinery and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    XiaoHui Yan, ShuiYun Shen, JieWei Yin & JunLiang Zhang

  3. SJTU-Paris Tech Elite Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

    GuangHua Wei

Authors
  1. XiaoHui Yan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. YiMeng Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. YuanTing Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. ShuiYun Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. GuangHua Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. JieWei Yin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. JunLiang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to JunLiang Zhang.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2016YFB0101312) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21706158).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yan, X., Peng, Y., Shen, Y. et al. The use of phase-change cooling strategy in proton exchange membrane fuel cells: A numerical study. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 64, 2762–2770 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-021-1889-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-021-1889-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation