Feasible analysis of pulsating heat pipe applied to proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has the advantages of high energy efficiency, clean, pollution-free, fast start-up and noise-free, but its thermal management problems still restrict the development and practical application of PEMFC. This paper analyzes the important influence of heat management on the working performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cell, and summarizes the structure principle and effect evaluation of thermal management system using heat pipe under the premise of simply summarizing the shortcomings of the thermal management system using conventional cooling method. By expounding the working principle and characteristics of pulsating heat pipe, and from the perspective of PEMFC internal structure and technology, the feasibility of applying pulsating heat pipe to PEMFC thermal management system is analyzed, with a view to developing pulsating heat pipe-type PEMFC thermal management technology with compact structure and excellent performance.