Small fuel cells thermal management

Figure 7.29 Part of a 100-kW SOFC combined heat and power unit. The fuel cell stack is the central unit The fuel processing system is on the small skid at the front, and the thermal manage-ment/electrical/control system is at the rear. The unit is about 8.5 x 3 x 3 m. (Diagram reproduced by kind pomission of Siemens Westinghouse Powct Corporation.)...

The thermal management requirements for small PEM fuel cells (and other PEM fuel cells as well) are intimately associated with water management. As discussed above, the level of hydration of the electrolyte membrane must be maintained in order to prevent dryout and thus loss of proton conduction in the membrane. The temperatures within the stack must accordingly be restricted. Cooling of the individual cells of the stack is carried out to assure that temperatures are moderate and rather uniform throughout the stack. 

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