Postgraduate Diploma in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems. 8 modules covering SAE J2578 (general safety of fuel cell vehicles), ISO 23273 (fuel cell vehicles: protection against hydrogen) and Simcenter Amesim. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Postgraduate Diploma in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems — studying from South Africa
Mining, agriculture and construction make off-road and specialised machinery central to South Africa's economy. Mining equipment manufacturers and service providers support the country's extensive gold, platinum and coal operations, while agricultural machinery serves commercial farming. Engineers working on heavy vehicles and special machines focus on hydraulics, drivetrains and durability under harsh conditions. The South African Bureau of Standards and the Mine Health and Safety Council set relevant standards and safety requirements.
Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body. Engineering registration is handled by ECSA, and machinery safety standards are linked to SABS and the Department of Employment and Labour's regulations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by employers or the relevant body, so confirm this with them before you enrol.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in off-road and special vehicles?
Mining, agriculture, construction and vehicle-conversion firms value practical machinery knowledge and proven problem-solving. A private qualification can support your application, especially with hands-on experience, but it carries no official status. Its weight depends on each employer, so ask potential employers in your field how they would view it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Check time-zone and workload expectations with SEIUM directly.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the fundamentals of heat transfer to the fuel cell.
Select coolants with low electrical conductivity.
Design heat exchangers for the stack circuit.
Define the architecture of the cooling circuit.
Model and simulate the thermal behaviour of the system.
Design thermal control strategies.
Plan the testing and validation of the cooling system.
Who it's for
- Thermal management engineer looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- CFD simulation engineer looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- Thermal control engineer looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- Cooling test technician looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- Heat exchanger design engineer looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- Hydrogen systems validation engineer looking to specialise in Fuel Cell Cooling Systems.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the automotive sector.
What you'll work with
- SAE J2578 (general safety of fuel cell vehicles)
- ISO 23273 (fuel cell vehicles: protection against hydrogen)
- ISO 16750-4 (climatic loads on vehicle electrical equipment)
- ASTM D3306 (glycol coolants for automotive use)
- UNECE Regulation No. 100 (safety of electric vehicles)
- IEC 62282-2-100 (fuel cell modules: safety)
- ISO 6469-3 (electrical safety of electric vehicles)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Heat generation and energy balance of the stack1.2Waste heat and thermoneutral voltage1.3PEM operating temperature window1.4Conduction in bipolar plates and MEA1.5Forced convection in cooling channels1.6Relationship between temperature and relative humidity1.7Temperature gradients along the cell1.8Thermal comparison with the combustion engine1.9Heat rejection with a low ambient differential1.10Practical: thermal balance of a 120 kW stack
2.1Coolants with low electrical conductivity2.2Deionised water and glycol mixtures2.3Deionisers and ion exchange2.4Monitoring circuit conductivity2.5Material compatibility with the coolant2.6Leaching of metal ions and corrosion2.7Inhibitors specific to fuel cells2.8Coolant ageing and replacement2.9Leakage currents and electrical insulation2.10Laboratory: conductivity and deioniser service life
3.1Radiators for a low thermal differential3.2ε-NTU method applied to radiators3.3Colburn j and f factors3.4Louvred fins and compact geometries3.5Pressure drop on the air and liquid sides3.6Vehicle frontal area restrictions3.7Fans and system curve3.8Fouling and dusty environments3.9Aluminium materials and brazing3.10Workshop: sizing a radiator with ε-NTU
4.1High-temperature stack circuit4.2Low-temperature circuit for electronics4.3Electric coolant pumps4.4Thermostatic and three-way valves4.5Expansion tanks and de-aeration4.6Cooling of the compressor and intercooler4.7Integration with cabin heating4.8Heat pumps and waste heat recovery4.9P&ID diagrams of the thermal system4.10Case study: thermal layout of a fuel cell bus
5.1Lumped-parameter models of the stack5.21D simulation with Modelica or GT-SUITE5.3CFD of cooling channels5.4Thermal models of the bipolar plate5.5Electrochemical and thermal coupling5.6Validation with test bench data5.7Parameter sensitivity analysis5.8Model reduction for control5.9High ambient temperature scenarios5.10Practical: 1D circuit model in Modelica
6.1Control of stack inlet temperature6.2Control of the inlet-outlet temperature difference6.3PID control of pump and fan6.4Model-based predictive control6.5Fast warm-up strategies6.6Cold start and ice management6.7Power derating due to overtemperature6.8Fault detection in thermal sensors6.9Coordination with power management6.10Workshop: tuning a thermal PID loop
7.1Test benches for thermal systems7.2Climatic chambers and tests at -30 °C7.3Radiator tests in a wind tunnel7.4Thermocouples, flowmeters and pressure transducers7.5Durability of the cooling circuit7.6Component vibration according to ISO 167507.7In-vehicle validation in extreme climates7.8Correlation between testing and simulation7.9Acceptance criteria and reports7.10Case study: test plan for a hot climate
8.1Thermal requirements of the target vehicle8.2Heat load calculation8.3Coolant and materials selection8.4Sizing of radiators and fans8.5Circuit design and P&ID8.6Thermal control strategy8.7Simulation of the complete system8.8Validation plan8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded lectures and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Simcenter Amesim, ANSYS Fluent, GT-SUITE, MATLAB/Simulink, STAR-CCM+, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for stack thermal test benches, coolant conductivity measurement and climatic chambers. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Apply the fundamentals of heat transfer to the fuel cell.
Select coolants with low electrical conductivity.
Design heat exchangers for the stack circuit.
Define the architecture of the cooling circuit.
Model and simulate the thermal behaviour of the system.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical standards documentation.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
Work is carried out with Simcenter Amesim, ANSYS Fluent, GT-SUITE, MATLAB/Simulink, STAR-CCM+. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM Institute's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the final integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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