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The potential of using nanofluids in PEM fuel cell cooling systems: A review

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  • Islam, M.R.
  • Shabani, B.
  • Rosengarten, G.
  • Andrews, J.

Abstract

This paper explores the potential and challenges of using nanofluids in cooling systems for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) in automotive applications. PEMFCs have clearly emerged as a promising alternative to existing conventional internal combustion engines (ICEs) in vehicles, mainly due to their relatively high electrical energy conversion efficiency (around 55% based on the high heating value of hydrogen), and zero emissions in operation. Despite their relatively low heat generation and low operating temperature (~65°C), PEMFCs require a relatively large radiator in their cooling systems, which is unfavourable in automotive applications. Nanofluids have attracted great interest as coolants due to their superior heat transfer properties. This paper thus reviews the using of nanoparticles with a suitable base fluid as a coolant in PEMFCs. It is found that a nanofluid coolant in a PEMFC can reduce the size of the radiator needed to dissipate its thermal load (by up to 10% relative to standard heat transfer fluids), eliminate the need for a deionizing filter, and lower the freezing point of the base fluid.

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  • Islam, M.R. & Shabani, B. & Rosengarten, G. & Andrews, J., 2015. "The potential of using nanofluids in PEM fuel cell cooling systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 523-539.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:48:y:2015:i:c:p:523-539
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.04.018
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    Cited by:

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    4. Ma, Haoran & Liu, Junheng & Liang, Wenwen & Li, Jiyu & Zhao, Wenyao & Sun, Ping & Ji, Qian, 2024. "Effects of PEMFC cooling channel insulation coating on heat transfer and electrical discharge characteristics of nanofluid coolants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    5. Ozen, Dilek Nur & Timurkutluk, Bora & Altinisik, Kemal, 2016. "Effects of operation temperature and reactant gas humidity levels on performance of PEM fuel cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 1298-1306.
    6. Azmi, W.H. & Sharma, K.V. & Mamat, Rizalman & Najafi, G. & Mohamad, M.S., 2016. "The enhancement of effective thermal conductivity and effective dynamic viscosity of nanofluids – A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1046-1058.
    7. Assaf, Jihane & Shabani, Bahman, 2016. "Transient simulation modelling and energy performance of a standalone solar-hydrogen combined heat and power system integrated with solar-thermal collectors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 66-77.
    8. Anggito P. Tetuko & Bahman Shabani & John Andrews, 2018. "Passive Fuel Cell Heat Recovery Using Heat Pipes to Enhance Metal Hydride Canisters Hydrogen Discharge Rate: An Experimental Simulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Lin, Chen & Yan, Xiaohui & Wei, Guanghua & Ke, Changchun & Shen, Shuiyun & Zhang, Junliang, 2019. "Optimization of configurations and cathode operating parameters on liquid-cooled proton exchange membrane fuel cell stacks by orthogonal method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    10. A.G. Olabi & Tabbi Wilberforce & Enas Taha Sayed & Khaled Elsaid & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2020. "Prospects of Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    11. Guo, Xinru & Zhang, Houcheng, 2020. "Performance analyses of a combined system consisting of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and thermally regenerative electrochemical cycles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    12. Abed Alaswad & Abdelnasir Omran & Jose Ricardo Sodre & Tabbi Wilberforce & Gianmichelle Pignatelli & Michele Dassisti & Ahmad Baroutaji & Abdul Ghani Olabi, 2020. "Technical and Commercial Challenges of Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cells," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ijaodola, O. & Ogungbemi, Emmanuel & Khatib, F.N. & Leslie, T. & El-Hassan, Zaki & Thomposon, J. & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Technical evaluation of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell performance – A review of the effects of bipolar plates coating," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    14. Chen, Qin & Zhang, Guobin & Zhang, Xuzhong & Sun, Cheng & Jiao, Kui & Wang, Yun, 2021. "Thermal management of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells: A review of cooling methods, material properties, and durability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    15. Asma Mohamad Aris & Bahman Shabani, 2015. "Sustainable Power Supply Solutions for Off-Grid Base Stations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-38, September.
    16. Ho-Seong Lee & Choong-Won Cho & Jae-Hyeong Seo & Moo-Yeon Lee, 2016. "Cooling Performance Characteristics of the Stack Thermal Management System for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles under Actual Driving Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-14, April.
    17. Yang, Zirong & Du, Qing & Jia, Zhiwei & Yang, Chunguang & Xuan, Jin & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "A comprehensive proton exchange membrane fuel cell system model integrating various auxiliary subsystems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    18. Islam, Mohammad Rafiqul & Shabani, Bahman & Rosengarten, Gary, 2016. "Nanofluids to improve the performance of PEM fuel cell cooling systems: A theoretical approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 178(C), pages 660-671.
    19. Zhang, Long & Chen, Leilei & Liu, Jian & Fang, Xiaoming & Zhang, Zhengguo, 2016. "Effect of morphology of carbon nanomaterials on thermo-physical characteristics, optical properties and photo-thermal conversion performance of nanofluids," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 888-897.
    20. Yang, Zirong & Du, Qing & Jia, Zhiwei & Yang, Chunguang & Jiao, Kui, 2019. "Effects of operating conditions on water and heat management by a transient multi-dimensional PEMFC system model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 462-476.

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