- #1
The P-manator
- 51
- 0
Are there materials that can absorb/trap heat and accumulate it efficiently?
Can Heat Absorbing Materials Improve Fuel Cell Efficiency?
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Discussion Overview
The discussion centers on the potential for heat-absorbing materials to improve the efficiency of fuel cells. Participants explore various materials and their properties, particularly in relation to specific heat capacity and practical applications in fuel cell design.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Technical explanation
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
Main Points Raised
- Some participants inquire about materials that can efficiently absorb and accumulate heat.
- One participant mentions the ceramic used in the space shuttle as a potential material but lacks specific details.
- Another participant discusses the concept of specific heat capacity, noting that different materials respond differently to heat based on their molecular structure.
- A suggestion is made to use helium as a heat absorber for its light weight, although this is met with questions regarding its effectiveness.
- Concerns are raised about the volume of helium compared to water, emphasizing that heat capacity is dependent on the amount of substance used.
- A participant highlights the importance of the thermal time constant, which relates heat capacity to thermal conductivity, suggesting that more details about the design and objectives are necessary for a complete answer.
- Further discussion revolves around the idea of trapping waste heat in a special chamber within the fuel cell and the potential use of metals as heat absorbers.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on the suitability of helium as a heat absorber and the importance of specific design details for effective heat absorption. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best material choice and application specifics.
Contextual Notes
Participants note the significance of specific heat capacity and thermal time constant but do not reach a consensus on the optimal material or design for heat absorption in fuel cells. The discussion lacks detailed specifications about the fuel cell design and objectives.
Who May Find This Useful
Individuals interested in fuel cell technology, materials science, and thermal management in engineering applications may find this discussion relevant.
- #2
Facial
- 30
- 1
The space shuttle ceramic... but I don't know what it is.
- #3
geoorge
- 11
- 0
specific heat capacity
i think that the keyword of your question is specific heat capacity, when you apply heat to different materials you will get a different result, because the molecular structure of each one will allow the movement of the mols with a different freedom.
Substances with low specific heat such as metals require less input energy to increase their temperature. Substances with high specific heat such as water require much more energy to increase their temperature. The specific heat can also be interpreted as a measure of how well a substance preserves its temperature, i.e. "stores" heat, hence the term "heat capacity".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_heat
i think that the keyword of your question is specific heat capacity, when you apply heat to different materials you will get a different result, because the molecular structure of each one will allow the movement of the mols with a different freedom.
Substances with low specific heat such as metals require less input energy to increase their temperature. Substances with high specific heat such as water require much more energy to increase their temperature. The specific heat can also be interpreted as a measure of how well a substance preserves its temperature, i.e. "stores" heat, hence the term "heat capacity".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_heat
- #4
The P-manator
- 51
- 0
Thanks I've just found out a whole lot out. So for my fuel cell, it looks like I might want to use helium as my heat absorber. It'll lighten up the car as well! 
- #5
mrjeffy321
Science Advisor
- 876
- 1
Why do you say Helium?
The heat capacity depends on the amount of the substance you have. 1 gram of Helium has a MUCH higher volume than 1 gram of water.
The heat capacity depends on the amount of the substance you have. 1 gram of Helium has a MUCH higher volume than 1 gram of water.
- #6
Gokul43201
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 7,213
- 25
If you tell us what you are using this heat absorber for, in more detail, we can give you a complete answer.
More often than not, the quantity of importance is the thermal time constant which is the ratio of the heat capacity to the thermal conductivity...but without knowing the specifics of the design and the objectives, you really can not get even a half-good answer.
More often than not, the quantity of importance is the thermal time constant which is the ratio of the heat capacity to the thermal conductivity...but without knowing the specifics of the design and the objectives, you really can not get even a half-good answer.
- #7
The P-manator
- 51
- 0
Well it's for use in a fuel cell. I want to trap the waste heat in a special chamber. Inside that chamber there would be a heat absorber.
There's a chart on a website that said that helium had the highest heat capacity, hydrogen excepted. But what you say is also true, if I could get something that took up a small amount of space but had high heat capacity, that would be perfect. How about a metal?
There's a chart on a website that said that helium had the highest heat capacity, hydrogen excepted. But what you say is also true, if I could get something that took up a small amount of space but had high heat capacity, that would be perfect. How about a metal?
- #8
Gokul43201
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 7,213
- 25
And do what with the trapped heat ?The P-manator said:
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