United Arab Emirates University

College of Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Department
Graduation Project I
1
st
semester 2003/2004
Design of a Finned PEM Fuel cell

Advisor: Dr. Ayoub Kazim


Done by: Ahmed Al-Salami
Badr Ali Ahmed
Jassim Abdulla
Overview:
Introduction.
Objectives.
Fuel Cells.
Fins.
Design & Analysis.
Assumptions.
Results.
Conclusion & Recommendations.
Introduction
Summary of the project.

A fuel cell is a device that uses hydrogen (or
hydrogen-rich fuel) and oxygen to create
electricity by an electrochemical process.




Objectives
1. Study a PEM fuel cell.

2. Design a number of fins on the external plate of the PEM fuel
cell.

3. Design of finned PEM fuel cell in terms of various geometry
and choose the best fin geometry in term of fin efficiency
and effectiveness.

4. Determine fin base temperature, heat transfer, efficiency
and effectiveness.

5. Couple the heat transfer equations of the fins with the
electrochemical equations of the fuel cells.

6. Perform economical analysis of a finned fuel cell.

7. Perform energy analysis on the fuel cell based on the first
law of thermodynamics.


Types of Fuel Cells
Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell (PEM).
Alkaline fuel cell (AFC).
Phosphoric-acid fuel cell (PAFC).
Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC).
Molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC).

PEM Fuel Cell
PEM (Proton Exchange
Membrane).

Components of PEM.

PEM fuel cell process.

Anode: 2H2 --> 4H+ + 4e-
Cathode: 4e- + 4H+ + O2 --> 2H2O
Overall: 2H2 + O2 --> 2H2O
Advantages:
Reliability.

Low Operating Cost.

Constant Power Production.

Clean Emissions.

Quiet Operations.

High Efficiency.

Choice of Fuels.

Storable.

Transportable.
Disadvantages:
Safety.

Cost.

Applications:
Stationery power
Automotive
Power Supply.
Boundary conditions
1. Infinitely Long Fin.

2. Insulated Fin Tip.

3. Convection From Fin Tip.

4. Prescribed fin temperature .

1. Infinitely Long Fin

( )

= T T hpkA Q
b c fin long

fin
c
hA
hpkA
=
fin long
q
c fin no
fin
hA
kp
Q
Q
= =
fin long
c
Rate of heat transfer :
Efficiency :
Effectiveness:
2. Insulated Fin Tip

Rate of heat transfer :
Efficiency :
Effectiveness:
( ) aL T T hpkA Q
b c tip insulated
tan

c
kA hp a / =
al
hA
kp
Q
Q
c fin no
fin
tanh
tip insulated
= = c
fin
c
hA
aL hpkA tanh
tip Insulated
= q
3. Convection From Fin Tip


Rate of heat transfer :
Efficiency :
Effectiveness:
c
kA hp a / =
( )
( )
( )
(

+
+
=

aL ak h aL
aL ak h aL
T T hpkA Q
b c conv
sinh cosh
cosh sinh
.

( )
( ) ( ) aL
ak
h
aL aL
aL
ak
h
aL
sinh cosh
cosh sinh
conv.
+
+
= q
( )
( )
(
(

+
+
= =
aL
ak
h
aL
aL
ak
h
aL
hA
kp
Q
Q
c fin no
fin
conv
sinh cosh
cosh sinh
.
c
4. Prescribed fin temperature
Rate of heat transfer :
Efficiency :
Effectiveness:
(Watt)
sinh
cosh
) (
(
(
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

-
aL
T T
T T
aL
T T hpkA Q
b
L
b c prescribed
( ) aL aL
T T
T T
aL
b
L
fin
sinh
cosh
|
|
.
|

\
|

+
=

q
(
(
(
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|

aL
T T
T T
aL
hA
kp
b
L
c
sinh
cosh
c
Flow chart

Re-design
Accept, and comparison between the
alternatives.
Select the best geometry
of fin
Qno,fin Qfin, max Qfin
NO YES
Boundary Conditions
Assumption: h, k, Tb, Ta

Dimensions
L, r, x
Af Ac P
1 < c

Design & Analysis
Assumptions
Symbol Definition Value Unit Reference
h
Convection
heat transfer
coefficient
10 W/m
2
.
o
C Typical
237 for
Aluminum
Yunus A
Cengle, Heat
transfer.
k
Thermal
conductivity
401 for
Copper
W/m.
o
C
Yunus A
Cengle,Heat
transfer.
T
a

Ambient
temperature
25
o
C Assumed
T
b

Base
temperature
65
o
C Assumed
T
L

Given
temperature
30
o
C Assumed

Assumptions :
Steady state.

One-dimensional conduction.

Negligible radiation heat transfers effect.

The area of external plate is 10X10 cm
2
.

Material is aluminum.
Cylindrical fin on the external plate


Results
Q
fin
& Q
fin, max
Vs. Length
0. 0500
0. 1000
0. 1500
0. 2000
0. 2500
0.0400 0. 0500 0. 0600 0.0700 0.0800 0.0900 0.1000 0. 1100 0. 1200
Length (m)
Q
f
i
n

(
W
a
t
t
)
0.1000
0.1500
0.2000
0.2500
0.3000
Q
f
i
n
,

m
a
x

(
W
a
t
t
)
Qfin Qfin,max

Results
Efficiency & Effectiveness Vs. Length
0. 7000
0. 7500
0. 8000
0. 8500
0. 9000
0. 9500
1. 0000
0.0400 0.0500 0.0600 0.0700 0.0800 0. 0900 0. 1000 0. 1100 0. 1200
Length (m)

65.0000
85.0000
105.0000
125.0000
145.0000
165.0000
185.0000

Efficiency Effectiveness

Results
Q
fin
& Q
fin, max
Vs. Diameter
0.03
0.23
0.43
0.63
0. 00055 0.00155 0. 00255 0.00355 0.00455 0.00555
Diameter (m)
Q
f
i
n

(
W
a
t
t
)
0.042
0.442
0.842
Q
f
i
n
,

m
a
x


(
W
a
t
t
)
Qfin Qfin,max

Results
Efficiency & Effectiveness Vs. Diameter
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
0.0008 0.0016 0.0024 0.0032 0.004 0.0048 0.0056
Diameter (m)

40
90
140
190
240
290

Efficiency Effectiveness
Results
Maximum heat transfer rate at constant diameter = 2mm for cylindrical geometry.
Maximum heat transfer rate at constant length = 80mm for cylindrical geometry.
Conclusion and Recommendations

References.

Test station of PEM fuel cell.

TK Solver software problems.

Heat transfer software's.

Boundary conditions information.

The coupling between the electrochemical analysis
and the fin design.