Fuel Cell Test Facility

There are varieties of fuel cell test stations available depending on the nature of tests considered. Table 8.6 lists key tests and equipment associated with fuel cell testing facility. 

Power testing Stationary power (e.g., 120 VAC, split phase, 60 Hz) Auxiliary power units Controllable solid-state power supplies Online uninterruptible power supply 

Reactant supply Hydrogen, natural gas methane, air, oxygen Blowers, compressors 

Loads AC and DC load banks, load profile controller 

Continuous power Auxiliary input real power, power factor, fiequency 

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The fuel cell test facility of FCPOINT, where all this activity is performed, allows characterisation of the electrical and environmental performance of Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell... 

The PSO-Elkraft Project established fuel cell testing facilities for the Danish-developed Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (DK-SOFC). Some lifetime factors have been identified and a new generation of cells have been developed with improved lifetime performance. 

A. Brinner et al. (1998). DLR s membrane Fuel Cell Test Facility for Stationary and Mobile XApplication, Proc. 12Th WHEC, Bolcich and T. N. Veziroglu, Buenos Aires, p. 1597. 

PEFC) stacks, components and entire systems, in off-grid, and grid-connected configurations, with a capacity of up to 100 kW electrical power output. The facility consists of an automated and computerised fuel cell test station, gas analysers, a multi-axial vibration system which is housed in a walk-in environmental chamber (for controlling temperatures, humidity, shocks and vibrations) and ancillary equipment. The data obtained are complementary to and validate fuel cell simulations and models with reference to operation modes, components and system characteristics 1 ... 

Figure 1. Schematic layout of the NIST BT-2 neutron imaging facility, including the main neutron optic components as well as the location of the fuel cell test and control infrastructure.

Standardised test methods for fuel cells and fuel cell systems under simulated service conditions at the JRC-IE testing facilities... 

FCE plans to demonstrate a molten carbonate fuel cell/turbine hybrid system in late 2000. The balance of plant equipment employed in the 250 kilowatt test at ERC s facility will be modified to accommodate a fuel cell and a gas turbine. The turbine is to be powered by waste heat from the fuel cell. The goal of the test is to demonstrate that the hybrid system will realize high efficiencies. This activity is a part of the U.S. DOE Office of Fossil Energy Vision 21 Program. 

The 25 kilowatt system is back on test at the National Fuel Cell Research Center. The unit typically operates at 21.7 kW DC and 173 amperes. The unit has operated at two facilities on various fuels for a combined time of more than 9,500 hours. Support for this test is provided by Wright Patterson Air Force Base. 

United States Fuel Cell Energy is developing an externally manifolded internally reformed MCFC and has constructed a 17 MWe/year cell manufacturing plant. They have also constructed a 400 kWe test facility. They have successfully completed the manufacture and test of 16 stack (4 modules), 2 MWe test in Santa Clara, California, for 4,000 hours. Details on Fuel Cell Energy field site are found in Table 11-5. 

As an application of Pt nanowires in heterogeneous catalysis, we performed preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO as a test reaction [32]. The PROX reaction is useful for PEM fuel cells for the selective removal of contaminating CO from hydrogen gas, because CO works as a strong catalyst poison for Pt electrode catalysts (Figure 15.24). H2 produced in steam-reforming and the water-gas shift reaction needs further to be purified in the PROX reaction to selectively oxidize a few% CO towards inert CO2 in a H 2-rich atmosphere, to reduce the CO content to <10ppm. Under the PROX conditions, the facile oxidation of H2 to H2O may also occur, thus the catalyst selectivity for CO oxidation over H2 oxidation is an... 

Shelton M., Celik I., Liese E., Tucker D., Lawson L. (2005) A transient model of a hybrid fuel cell, gas turbine test facility using simulink. In Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo, Reno-Tahoe, NV, 2005-GT-68467. 

The Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC), summarized in Fig. 4-13, is a program set up by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in March 2003. In this program, hydrogen refueling facilities with different types of fuel and production methods will be tested. Vehicles from five automakers are taking part in this project, including Toyota s FCHV and fuel cell bus. 

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