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Thermal Constraints of PEM Micro Fuel Cells for Portable Electronics

Abstract:

This paper focuses on problems concerning the thermal management when using a fuel cell in a portable device. They can be summarized as follows:
- Heat dissipation is a performance limiting parameter in many portable electronic products.
- Fuel cell efficiency of ca. 50% increases total thermal load of a portable device by 80–100%.
- Thus it is a technical challenge that a system with portable fuel cell remains within allowable operating temperatures.
- A liquid cooling loop is not applicable in miniaturized systems.
- Accurate thermal models are needed to develop the systems integration of fuel cells.

Future studies will include transient thermal behavior, the influence of varying ambient temperatures and humidity as well as full systems integration.