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Factory of Tomorrow

EasyCell - Design optimization of PEM fuel cells for reducing auxilliaries and simplificating the material-management to facilitate the mass production

EasyCell - A common use of PEM fuel cells is not yet established. It is the aim of this project to optimize the design of PEM fuel cells (minimization of peripheral units, simplified handling of gases and the right design for mass production) to ease a widespread use of PEM fuel cells.

Short Description

Status

completed

Summary

It is the aim of the project to develop manufacturing processes for an optimised PEM-fuel cell (polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cell). Special attention is put on the management of the used media, on the optimisation of peripheral units and on the right design for mass production. At the end of the project the result, an ‘EasyCell' is realized which allows an easy market penetration as a matter of cheap manufacturing.

In combining technologically approved manufacturing processes with new materials the following advantages result:

  • The water from the chemical reaction can be used to humidify the hydrogen flow in the respective and adjacent cell. Due to this the management of the water is eased and the so far necessary peripheral units (humidifier) may be cut down. This scales down the size of the PEM-fuel cell and leads to a significant cost reduction. Due to reduced power consumption the system efficiency is improved.
  • By proper connection of the cells a sufficient output voltage (> 1.5 V) can be achieved without assembling cells to a stack.
  • This allows power conversion via electronic devices since a single EasyCell produces voltages in the range of todays power transistors.
  • Cheap production under the aspect of a reduced input of material

To achieve these advantages the following tasks are investigated intensively within the project:

  • Production of micro-structured bipolar plates with micro-structures of about 100 - 200 µm for the operation of the EasyCell.
  • Optimisation of the structures aiming on humidification of the PEM
  • Adjustment of print methods for the targeted and structured application of catalyst material
  • Production of a prototype of the EasyCell for determine typical performance

Finally a prototype of the EasyCell is achieved including performance data as well as a mass bill. This prototype exhibits a smaller size but and an improved system efficiency compared to conventional PEM-fuel cells.

Furthermore know-how is gained concerning diffusion processes of the water in a PEM, concerning targeted and structured application of catalyst material and the manufacturing of single components with the help of mass production technologies.

Project Partners

Project management

DI Friedrich Lehner
Viktor-Kaplan-Straße 2
A-2700 Wr. Neustadt
Tel.: +43 (0)2622 90333 32
Fax: +43 (0)2622 90333-99
E-Mail: lehner@fotec.at

Project or cooperation partner