Self-Regulating Passive Controlled CFOAM Thermal Management System

Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd. has proposed a thermal management system made of its novel material CFOAMr for a 50kWe logistic-fuel reforming processor for PEM fuel cells with the capability of scaling up to 500kWe system. This system passively controls the cooling of gas from 500°C to 300°C under varying working conditions in flow rate, temperature and pressure without using extra control units. It has an ability to regulate its cooling power automatically. This CFOAM system features light weight, durability, and compactness due to its integrated heat exchanger and heat recovery system and is a low-cost thermal management system due to its long life cycle and minimized use of expensive control units. The Phase I effort will focus on the effectiveness of a passive control concept using CFOAM, and the Phase II work will aim at the design and manufacturing issues of this system.