Open AccessInfluence of Al2O3-Water Nanofluid Coolant on Thermal Performance of Hydrogen PEM Fuel Cell Stacks
Author(s) -
Ward F. Arear,
Aimen Zeiny,
Maher A.R. Sadiq Al-Baghdadi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/1094/1/012064
Subject(s) - nanofluid , coolant , materials science , pressure drop , chemical engineering , proton exchange membrane fuel cell , nuclear engineering , hydrogen , nanoparticle , thermodynamics , chemistry , nanotechnology , fuel cells , engineering , organic chemistry , physics
Hydrogen polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells are renewable and future sustainable power generation systems that operate with zero emissions. Thermal management in fuel cells is still an important issue that must be addressed to extend their life and the possibility of their widespread commercial use. In this research, a simulation model has been developed and validated using MATLAB to investigate the cooling process and its effect on the PEM fuel cells using nanofluids as coolant. Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles have been used due to their thermal characteristics, chemical stability, and cost-effectiveness compared to other nanoparticles. The Al 2 O 3 -H 2 O nanofluid was used with 0.1 to 0.4 vol % concentration. The results showed that employing nanofluids as coolant increases the temperature difference between the coolant outlet and inlet. Nanoparticles concentration increases, the temperature difference increases. Similarly, the nanoparticles concentration increases, both pressure drop across the cooling channel and pumping power increases. Therefore, employing nanofluids in PEM fuel cells seems an impractical choice for the lower temperature difference criterion at a certain pumping power.