Detailed analysis of an endoreversible fuel cell : Maximum power and optimal operating temperature determination

TL;DR

This paper models an endoreversible fuel cell within finite time thermodynamics to determine the optimal operating temperature for maximum power output, aiding thermal management design.

Contribution

It introduces an endoreversible fuel cell model considering various heat transfer laws to find optimal operating conditions for maximum power.

Findings

Optimal operating temperature for maximum power identified.

Heat transfer laws significantly influence fuel cell performance.

Framework supports thermodynamical design of thermal management systems.

Abstract

Producing useful electrical work in consuming chemical energy, the fuel cell have to reject heat to its surrounding. However, as it occurs for any other type of engine, this thermal energy cannot be exchanged in an isothermal way in finite time through finite areas. As it was already done for various types of systems, we study the fuel cell within the finite time thermodynamics framework and define an endoreversible fuel cell. Considering different types of heat transfer laws, we obtain an optimal value of the operating temperature, corresponding to a maximum produced power. This analysis is a first step of a thermodynamical approach of design of thermal management devices, taking into account performances of the whole system.