Increasing Efficiency by Integrating Thermolectric Materials into Fuel Cell

Year 2019, Volume: 14 Issue: 3, 104 - 111, 08.07.2019

Adem Yılmaz , Murat Avcı

Abstract

PEM (Polymer Membrane Fuel Cell) is a technology that emits
electricity from the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases. The
material is also capable of generating electricity due to the temperature
difference applied to both surfaces. In this study, it is aimed to establish a
mechanism to evaluate the waste heat produced by the fuel cell by using
peltier. The fuel cell is designed to facilitate heat transfer to the Thermoelectric
Coolant. One side of the Thermoelectric Coolant was mounted on the heat exit
surface of the fuel cell and a fan was used to remove heat from the other
surface. As a result of the experiments, it was seen that the most efficient
working range of PEM fuel cell was limited to 70-80^oC, thus the
surface temperature difference required for the efficient operation of the
peltier was not fully formed. However, it has been determined that the energy
obtained from the PEM fuel cell can be increased by 10% in these conditions.

Keywords

Thermoelectric Coolant, Fuel Cell, Cooling Fan, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, Peltier

Increasing Efficiency by Integrating Thermolectric Materials into Fuel Cell

Abstract

PEM (Polymer Membrane Fuel Cell) is a technology that emits electricity from the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen gases. The material is also capable of generating electricity due to the temperature difference applied to both surfaces. In this study, it is aimed to establish a mechanism to evaluate the waste heat produced by the fuel cell by using peltier. The fuel cell is designed to facilitate heat transfer to the Thermoelectric Coolant. One side of the Thermoelectric Coolant was mounted on the heat exit surface of the fuel cell and a fan was used to remove heat from the other surface. As a result of the experiments, it was seen that the most efficient working range of PEM fuel cell was limited to 70-80oC, thus the surface temperature difference required for the efficient operation of the peltier was not fully formed. However, it has been determined that the energy obtained from the PEM fuel cell can be increased by 10% in these conditions. 

Keywords

Thermoelectric Coolant, Fuel Cell, Cooling Fan, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane, Peltier

References

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