Simulation of the Performance and Thermal Behavior of a Fuel Cell Using a Thermal Management System with Heat Pipes

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are among the most promising clean energy technologies due to their high efficiency, fast response, and negligible emissions. A key challenge to their durability is thermal management, where passive devices such as heat pipes offer an efficient solution. In this study, a three-dimensional numerical model in ANSYS Fluent was developed to examine the effect of heat pipe configurations on PEMFC thermal and electrical behavior. Validation against polarization data showed high accuracy, with a maximum voltage deviation of ۳%. Results revealed that three vertically arranged heat pipes, positioned perpendicular to the channel, provided the most effective configuration, leading to an improvement in power generation while also slightly lowering the operating temperature. Moreover, the relative temperature gradient decreased by ۳۶.۵% (from ۰.۵۲۸۷% to ۰.۳۳۵۶%), demonstrating improved thermal uniformity. These findings underline the potential of optimized heat pipe integration to enhance PEMFC efficiency, stability, and lifespan.

Keywords:

PEMFCs , Thermal Management , Heat Pipe , Numerical Simulation