Towards More Efficient PEM Fuel Cells Through Advanced Thermal Management: From Mechanisms to Applications

Qian Wu, Zhiliang Dong, Xinfeng Zhang (), Chaokai Zhang, Atif Iqbal and Jian Chen ()
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Qian Wu: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Zhiliang Dong: State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
Xinfeng Zhang: Department of Intelligence Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Chaokai Zhang: Gongtai Electronic Co., Ltd., Wenzhou 325207, China
Atif Iqbal: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Jian Chen: State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power & Mechatronic System, School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310015, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: Proton membrane exchange fuel cells (PEMFCs) provide an important energy solution to decarbonizing transport sectors and electric systems due to zero carbon emission during the operating process, and how to enhance the system efficiency of PEMFCs is one of the most challengeable issues to hinder the large-scale commercial application of PEMFCs. In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted to explore the feasibility and techno-economic performance of advanced thermal management to promote the efficiency of PEMFC systems. The thermal management of PEMFCs can be implemented from two aspects: one is efficient cooling methods to maintain the PEMFC under proper working temperature range, and the other one is waste heat recovery from PEMFCs to improve the overall system efficiency. Concentrated on these topics, many achievements have been gained by academic and industrial communities, and it is imperative to analyze and conclude these experienced studies from mechanism, technology, and application aspects. Therefore, this review summarized the great advances of thermal management of PEMFCs with efficient cooling and waste heat recovery for the sake of improving the overall efficiency of PEMFC systems, providing guidelines for the future design and optimization of PEMFC systems.

Keywords: proton exchange membrane fuel cells; thermal management; system efficiency; cooling methods; waste heat recovery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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