Fuel cells component technology

Because of the modular nature of fuel cells, they are attractive for use in small portable units, ranging in size from 5 W or smaller to 100 W power levels. Examples of uses include the Ballard fuel cell, demonstrating 20 hour operation of a portable power unit (32), and an IFC military backpack. There has also been technology transfer from fuel cell system components. The best example is a joint IFC and Praxair, Inc., venture to develop a unit that converts natural gas to 99.999% pure hydrogen based on using fuel cell reformer technology and pressure swing adsorption process. 

Table 5-1 Evolution of Cell Component Technology for Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells... 

The previous discussion asserts that design, fabrication, and implementation of stable and inexpensive materials for membranes and catalyst layers are the most important technological challenges for PEFC developers. A profound insight based on theory and modeling of the pertinent materials will advise us how fuel cell components with optimal specifications can be made and how they can be integrated into operating cells. 

Proton Exchange Membrane Technology Fuel Cell Components Testing Equipment Software... 

Wang, Heli he has worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the United States. He received a Ph.D. in corrosion science and materials chemistry from the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. From 1998, he had worked with nanostructured semiconductors of metal oxides at the Department of Physical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden. His research work has been in materials, electrochemistry, photoelectrochemistry, as well as fuel cell components. 

Pehnt, M. (2003). Life-cycle analysis of fuel cell system components. In "Handbook of Fuel Cells - Fundamentals, Technology and Applications, Vol. 4 (Vielstich, W.,... 

Hoogers, G. Fuel cell components and their impact on performance. In Fuel Cell Technology Handbook, Hoogers, G., Ed. CRC Press Boca Raton, 2003 4-1 -26. 

Use of ink-jet technology for printing of fuel cell components and packaging presents most of the same fluid/substrate interaction issues. The printing of Nafion , metal catalyst (e.g., Pt), solder, electrodes, etc. requires deposition of liquid onto a nonporous substrate (similar to printing an overhead transparency). For desired resolution, it is essential to control the spreading of the material. 

Figure 11-28 illustrates the different fuel cell components that have been reported printed by researchers in academia as well as industry using ink-jet technology. 

In this chapter, the current status and several major aspects of PEFC component modeling are described and discussed. Mathematical and computational modeling (both analytical and numerical) play important roles in the technology development and optimal operation of PEFCs from a fundamental understanding of underlying phenomena to engineering design and optimization that can lead to cost reductions and durability improvements. At present, the macroscopic descriptions of phenomena in the individual fuel-cell components have been formulated and... 

In February 2002, UTC Fuel Cells and Nissan signed an agreement to develop fuel cells and fuel cell components for vehicles. Renault, Nissan s alliance partner, is also participating in the development projects. UTC Fuel Cells will provide proprietary ambient-pressure proton exchange membrane fuel cell technology. 

Many studies have examined various aspects of PEM fuel cell performance as a function of operating conditions [180-182]. Gottesfeld wrote an excellent review of PEM fuel cells components and operation [183]. In addition to experimental characterization, much research has focused on first-principles-based modeling of the PEM fuel cells [184, 185]. Polarization occurs during operation of PEM fuel cells and it dramatically influences both the performance and the commercialization of the technology. In order to systematically improve the efficiency of the fuel cell, a better understanding of the reactions and mass transport in the cell is essential. In this section, the improvement of the MEA performance based on CNTs and CNFs catalysts will be discussed. 

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