Water and Heat Conservation Modelling for a Reformate Supplied Fuel Cell System

Fuel cell systems are intended to generate electric power. When Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells are used, they also generate water and waste heat from air and hydrogen or from a gas rich in hydrogen. This paper proposes models for the water and heat balance of a reformate supplied fuel cell. Models are presented for the fuel cell thermal balance, the cooling circuit and the water balance. The models are reduced for control purposes: for thermal management of the fuel cell, and to maintain a positive water balance.