Abo Bibliothek: Guest

ISSN Online: 2377-424X

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-421-2

International Heat Transfer Conference 15
August, 10-15, 2014, Kyoto, Japan

Condensation of Water from Saturated Air in a Compact Plate Condenser with Application to Water Balance in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Systems

Get access (open in a dialog) DOI: 10.1615/IHTC15.cds.008969
pages 858-869

Abstrakt

Humidification of proton exchange membrane fuel cells is crucial for optimum performance and to minimise degradation; this is most commonly achieved by condensing product water from the cathode exhaust to humidify and cool the inlet air stream. This paper presents an experimental study on condensation of water from saturated air in a compact plate heat exchanger with chevron surface enhancements under forced convection. Measured temperature profiles within the heat exchanger were used to determine correlations for the local heat transfer coefficients. Hot side heat transfer coefficient was found to be a function of Reynolds number and mass fraction of non-condensable gas across the operating temperature range of a PEM fuel cell (70-95?C). Heat transfer coefficients were observed to be up to five times larger than those predicted by existing correlations for annular flow in pipes at lower non-condensable mass fractions. A simplified heat exchanger model for system level water balance analysis in fuel cell systems was developed from the correlations obtained based on an effective heat capacity method, showing a mean error of 3.8% compared to experimental results.