Heat transfer process analysis and performance research of micro heat pipe array applied for the thermal management of proton exchange membrane fuel cells

•A new PEMFC thermal management method based on micro heat pipe array is proposed.•Micro heat pipe array has fast thermal response and good temperature uniformity.•Micro heat pipe array can enhance the heat dissipation capacity of PEMFC. Effective thermal management is critical for the safe and efficient operation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The small temperature difference between the stack and the environment brings greater challenges to the cooling system. This study proposes the integration of micro heat pipe arrays (MHPA) into bipolar plates for thermal management of small-power air-cooled PEMFC. The heat transfer performance of 2 mm MHPA under air-cooled conditions is experimentally studied, and a comparative study is conducted on the actual application of air-cooled PEMFC. The results show that the MHPA can reach a steady state within 600–900 s when the heating power is changed. The minimum thermal resistance of the MHPA is 0.53 K/W, the uniform temperature distribution in the evaporation zone is very uniform within 2 K, showing a small heat transfer thermal resistance and good temperature uniformity performance. When the maximum temperature inside the stack does not exceed 65 ℃, the maximum output power of the MHPA-PEMFC is 25.66% higher than that of the traditional air-cooled PEMFC, and the maximum temperature difference inside the stack is reduced by 50.1%. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the application potential of MHPA in PEMFC thermal management.