Fuel Cell Coolants

  

Vinod Kumar
Published : March 14, 2023

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Fuel Cell Coolants

Fuel Cell Coolants are developed to cool down the heat caused in the stacks of the fuel cell vehicle engine. A fuel cell stack made up of numerous fuel cells attached in sequence to form an automotive engine. The coolant must have a very low conductivity to avoid or reduce the risk of electrical shock. Low electrical conductivity for fuel cell coolant is also preferred to minimize system efficiency loss and reduce shunt current in the coolant system. Also, fuel cell coolants need high heat capacity, low viscosity, low freezing point, high boiling point, and high thermal conductivity. These properties help to reduce pressure and pumping power by maintaining heat transfer requirements.

The demand for less electrical conductivity sets these coolants apart from internal combustion engine coolants used nowadays. While fuel cell vehicles may require electrical conductivity to be as close to zero as possible, conventional coolants have an electrical conductivity of 2,000–4,000 µS/cm. The starting point will be to measure electrical conductivity at room temperature under no stress. The coolant must maintain a low electrical conductivity over time and temperature while driving the car. Failure to do so would increase maintenance costs since deionizer filters would not last as long, and the fluids in the car would become more dangerous.

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