News -
September 2023
Dynalene Showcases New Fuel Cell Coolant Research at the 2023 Seminar
Carter Prokesch
The 2023 Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Seminar brought together the brightest minds in clean energy at the Long Beach Convention Center from February 7-9. During the event, Dynalene R&D Engineer Carter Prokesch presented his latest research focusing on the critical role of low electrical conductivity coolants in hydrogen fuel cell systems.
The Challenge of Thermal Degradation
Low electrical conductivity glycol-based coolants are heavily utilized within fuel cell stacks to maintain safe operating temperatures. However, thermal degradation of these coolants over time can generate acidic components. If left unchecked, these acidic breakdown products can severely corrode the internal metals of the fuel cell's construction.To counter these corrosive effects, chemical inhibitors are strategically incorporated into the fluid. These inhibitors passivate the metal surfaces and prevent organic acid formation. However, the system dynamics are complex: metal surfaces that have already been exposed to acidic coolant may act as a catalyst, accelerating further fluid degradation in a compounding cycle.
Pioneering Research on Synergistic Effects
Prior to this research, data on this potentially synergistic catalytic effect was scarce, and its suppression in inhibited, low electrical conductivity coolants had not been extensively studied. During his presentation, Carter Prokesch detailed how Dynalene's R&D team examined the ways common metals affect glycol degradation.The research centered on measuring and comparing the concentration of acidic products in both inhibited and uninhibited fluids, offering vital insights for engineers designing the next generation of highly durable hydrogen fuel cells.