Quantum Leap on the Way to the Energy Turnaround with Fuel Cells: Super-Thin Films of Graphite Bipolar Plates: Thin, Flexible and Highly Conductive

2021 ◽  
Vol 1046 ◽  
pp. 89-93
Author(s):  
Thorsten Hickmann ◽  
Thorsten Derieth
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Matrix Material ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Polymer Materials ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Phenolic Resins ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Quantum Leap ◽  
Energy Turnaround

Efficient bipolar plates are needed to store electricity from renewable energies. Here the focus is concentrating on graphite-compound-Bipolar plates, which are one of the most used components in a Fuel Cell Stack system. Among other things, polypropylene is a suitable matrix material, but other polymer materials such as PPS and PVDF and phenolic resins can also be considered. However, for a correspondingly high conductivity in the fuel cell system, the plastic must be filled with up to more than 80 % graphite. To ensure that the compound is not brittle afterwards and is as easy to process as possible, an impact modify cation was further developed that makes it possible to produce thin films.

Exergy Analysis of a Hybrid Micro Gas Turbine Fuel Cell System Based on Existing Components

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Bakalis ◽  
A. G. Stamatis
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Exergy Analysis ◽  
Cell System ◽  
System Component ◽  
Utilization Factor ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Micro Gas Turbine ◽  
Partial Load ◽  
Set Up

A hybrid system based on an existing recuperated microturbine and a pre-commercially available high temperature tubular solid oxide fuel cell is modeled in order to study its performance. Individual models are developed for the microturbine and fuel cell generator and merged into a single one in order to set up the hybrid system. The model utilizes performance maps for the compressor and turbine components for the part load operation. The full and partial load exergetic performance is studied and the amounts of exergy destruction and efficiency of each hybrid system component are presented, in order to evaluate the irreversibilities and thermodynamic inefficiencies. Moreover, the effects of various performance parameters such as fuel cell stack temperature and fuel utilization factor are investigated. Based on the available results, suggestions are given in order to reduce the overall system irreversibility. Finally, the environmental impact of the hybrid system operation is evaluated.

Lightweight PEM Fuel Cell Stack for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinmyun Jo ◽  
Xiaoyu Zhang ◽  
Ali Ansari
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Test System ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts fuel into electricity. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) have been used for ground transportation due to its high efficiency and zero carbon emission. When it comes to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), PEMFCs can support much longer flight endurance than internal combustion engines and batteries do. However, a lightweight PEMFC stack is required in order to carry enough payload for UAVs. In this research, a lightweight fuel cell stack was developed and fabricated based on the Horizon fuel cell stack. The stack components, including end plates, bipolar plates, and interconnects were redesigned and fabricated to replace those heavy components. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) and electroplating were used to fabricate bipolar plates and interconnects, whereas the end plates were machined from Garolite XX plates. The fabricated lightweight PEMFC stacks were tested using a Scribner 850e Fuel Cell Test System. The lightweight stack assembled with six electroplated bipolar plates showed that the maximum power density estimated was 3.514 W/cm2 with 4.5 V and 1.6 A/cm2 conditions for 100 ml/min of H2. The same fuel cell stack tested at 200 ml/min and 300 ml/min showed higher maximum power densities than 100 ml/min. The presentation includes design and fabrication, performance characterization, weight reduction strategy, and future work.

scholarly journals Overcoming the Challenges for a Mass Manufacturing Machine for the Assembly of PEMFC Stacks

Machines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Porstmann ◽  
Wannemacher ◽  
Richter
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Polymer Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Active Components ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Electrolyte Membrane ◽  
Modular Concept ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Manufacturing Machine

One of the major obstacles standing in the way of a break-through in fuel cell technology is its relatively high costs compared to well established fossil-based technologies. The reasons for these high costs predominantly lie in the use of non-standardized components, complex system components, and non-automated production of fuel cells. This problem can be identified at multiple levels, for example, the electrochemically active components of the fuel cell stack, peripheral components of the fuel cell system, and eventually on the level of stack and system assembly. This article focused on the industrialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) stack components and assembly. To achieve this, the first step is the formulation of the requirement specifications for the automated PEMFC stack production. The developed mass manufacturing machine (MMM) enables a reduction of the assembly time of a cell fuel cell stack to 15 minutes. Furthermore the targeted automation level is theoretically capable of producing up to 10,000 fuel cell stacks per year. This will result in a ~50% stack cost reduction through economies of scale and increased automation. The modular concept is scalable to meet increasing future demand which is essential for the market ramp-up and success of this technology.

scholarly journals Modelling and control of a grid-tied power conditioning unit for a megawatt fuel cell system

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Khlid Ben Hamad ◽  
Mohamed Tariq Kahn
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Power Conditioning ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
And Control ◽  
Exchange Membrane

It is a reality that future development in the energy sector is founded on the utilization of renewable and sustainable energy sources. These energy sources can empower to meet the double targets of diminishing greenhouse gas emissions and ensuring reliable and cost-effective energy supply. Fuel cells are one of the advanced clean energy technologies and have demonstrated their ability to be a decent substitute to address the above-mentioned concerns. They are viewed as reliable and efficient technologies to operate either tied or non-tied to the grid and power applications ranging from domestic, commercial to industrial. Among different fuel cell technologies, proton exchange membrane is the most attractive. Its connection to the utility grid requires that the power conditioning system serving as the interface between the stack and the grid operates accordingly. This study aims to model and control a power conditioning system for the grid-connection of a megawatt fuel cell stack. Besides the grid, the system consists of a 1.54 MW/1400 V DC proton exchange membrane fuel cell stack, a 1.3 MW/600 V three-level diode clamped inverter and an LCL filter which is designed to reduced harmonics and meet the standards such as IEEE 519 and IEC 61000-3-6. The power conditioning control scheme comprises voltage and current regulators to provide a good power factor and satisfy synchronization requirements with the grid. The frequency and phase are synchronized with those of the grid through a phase-locked-loop. The modelling and simulation are performed using Matlab/Simulink. The results show good performance of the proposed microgrid as well as the inverter design and control approach with a low total harmonic distortion of about 0.35% for the voltage and 0.19% for the current.   

Improvement of Mechanical Properties of Elastomer-Plastic Conductive Composites for Bipolar Plates in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Petrach ◽  
Ismat Abu-Isa ◽  
Xia Wang
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Composite Material ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Vinyl Ester ◽  
Gas Permeability ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
High Permeability ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Conductive Composites

Bipolar plates account for about 80% of the fuel cell stack weight. The use of low density and high strength conductive composites for making bipolar plates will result in a lighter and more compact fuel cell stack assembly. Light weight composites were developed based on a two component elastomeric silicone RTV matrix. However, two shortcomings of this composite material are low mechanical strength and relatively high permeability to gases. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new composite material which will overcome high permeability and low strength issues through the use of elastomer-plastic blends as the composite matrix. The elastomer-plastic blends consist of vinyl ester with either urethane elastomer or ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM) rubber. The chosen elastomers have higher tensile strength and lower gas permeability than silicone rubber. The elastomers will be blended with vinyl ester thermoset plastic to further enhance these characteristics. Synergistic conductive filler system developed in previous work will be used for the new composites to make them conductive. Compatibility of blends ranging in concentration from pure plastic to pure elastomeric composition will be presented along with in-plane electrical resistivity and mechanical properties.

Experiences With the First Japanese-Made Solid-Oxide Fuel-Cell System

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasunobu Mizutani ◽  
Koji Hisada ◽  
Kenji Ukai ◽  
Misuzu Yokoyama ◽  
Hirofumi Sumi
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Cell System ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Efficiency Cost

A solid-oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) system based on planar type cells and a cylindrical stack design was examined for small-scale stationary applications. To reduce the operating temperature of electrolyte-supported type cells, scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) was employed as the electrolyte. A compact catalytic partial oxidation (CPOx) reformer was employed and thin ferritic stainless steel was used for the interconnect bipolar plates. As a result, a carefully designed internal manifold-type 68 cell stack produced an output of 1kW at 1073K with thermal self-sustaining conditions. Also, important issues in realizing high-efficiency, cost-effective SOFC systems are discussed.

Investigating the Use of Stamped Metal Foils as Bipolar Plates in PEM Fuel Cell Stacks

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel T. Backes ◽  
David T. McMillan ◽  
Andrew M. Herring ◽  
John R. Berger ◽  
John A. Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Flow Field ◽  
Thin Sheet ◽  
Pem Fuel Cell ◽  
Bipolar Plate ◽  
Steel Plates ◽  
Bipolar Plates ◽  
Fuel Cell Stack ◽  
Serpentine Flow Field

The process of stamping stainless steel bipolar plates is developed from initial plate design through manufacturing and use in a fuel cell stack. A stamped design incorporating a serpentine flow field for the cathode and an interdigitated flow field for the anode is designed. This bipolar plate consists of only one piece of thin stainless steel sheet. The process of rubber-pad stamping was chosen to reduce shearing of the thin sheet. Dies were designed and made. Stainless steel plates were stamped, but stress were higher than anticipated and die failure was observed. The plates were tested both in-situ and by doing simulated fuel cell testing. Although sealing was an issue due to lack of proper gaskets and endplates, tests determined that the stamped bipolar plates will work in a PEM fuel cell stack. Dies were redesigned to improve durability. Gaskets and endplates were designed to complete the stack construction.

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