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Experimental potential of exploiting PEMFC's waste heat using TEG modules
Authors: B. Abderezzak, M. Hinaje, J. Leveque
Number of views: 461
This work is an experimental approach regarding the opportunity to exploit Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) waste heat, using Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) Modules. The amount of energy recovered by TEG modules can be stored using NiMH batteries, and used for feeding the PEMFC Stack screens and LED lights once its turns on "Stand-by" mode. In fact, several combinations are envisaged to depict the optimal working conditions of the proposed system. The proposed 6A and 15A TEG modules are experienced under a 20A and 30A of load applied on the PEMFC Stack. A Re-Start mode is then investigated to observe the system response against such scenarios. The experimental result shows a promising output voltage rates generated by the TEG modules. At stack working temperature of 60µrC, the 15A TEG voltage is 500 mV and 571 mV under stack load of 20A and 30A respectively. In Re-Start mode, at same stack temperature, the output voltage is 517 mV. A numerical approach is employed for the determination of experimental Seebeck coe¢ cient and the evaluation of the thermoelectric conversion efficiency, using a one-dimensional (1-D) steady state model. A polynomial function of the experimental Seebeck coe¢ cient is then deduced.