Comprehensive Research Review of Thermal Management Strategies in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

With the increasing global demand for clean and efficient energy, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs), as a key technology for hydrogen energy conversion, have received widespread attention from both academia and industry for their research and development. PEMFCs exhibit broad application prospects in multiple fields due to their high energy conversion efficiency, low environmental pollution, and good operational stability. However, the commercialization of PEMFCs still faces numerous technical challenges, particularly in the efficient management of thermodynamic systems and key heat transfer mechanisms. This paper reviews the heat and mass transfer processes in PEMFC power systems, the establishment of systematic thermal analysis and calculation methods, as well as energy balance models. Based on the analysis, flowcharts for the PEMFC thermal calculation model and the energy balance and loss calculation model were drawn respectively. It also discusses the current issues in PEMFC thermal management research and outlines future development trends.