Hydrogen fuel cells: Testing of the Membrane Electrode Assembly

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Testing of the Membrane Electrode Assembly with FC-MEA

With the H2FC-MEA, tests and characterizations are carried out on individual fuel cells or cell stacks under defined operating conditions. The H2FC-MEA is designed to be self-sufficent and flexible and based on a modular system. The test sequences parameterized with a sequence editor run directly on a real-time computer, which guarantees the uninterrupted execution and recording of very long test sequences.

 

Features

  • Gas dosing with mass flow controller (H2 / air / oxygen)
  • Dynamic humidification of the gases with bubble column reactors with a dry bypass to achieve high dynamics
  • Adjustable operating points on the cathode and anode in terms of dew point, pressure, temperature and flow rate
  • In the event of a fault, inerting with nitrogen at the cathode and anode
  • Plausibility and monitoring functions (H2-warning unit, flow-monitoring, exhaust system, leak check, monitoring of customer-side media …)
  • Automated, unmanned operation
  • Measurement protocol and data export
  • Possibility of connection to the customer‘s ATEX exhaust air system

Applications

  • Anode and cathode preparation
  • Automatic filling of the bubble column reactors for unmanned operation
  • Cooling circuit for tempering the fuel cell (Delta p, Delta T or T regulation)
  • Impedance spectroscopy to characterize the cells
  • Electronic load (sink) for simulating

 

 

Technical Specifications

Gas conditioning
MFC accuracy ± 0.1 % FS
± 0.5 % RD
Humidification method Bubble column reactor  
Dewpoint control accuracy ± 1 °C
Gas temperature range until 130 °C
Gas temperature control accuracy ± 2 °C
Temperature sensors PT100  
Pressure control range 1,1-5 bar
Pressure control accuracy < 25 mbar
Pressure sensor accuracy ± 0.25 % FS
Cooling unit
Temperature control accuracy ± 1 °C
Regulation modes Δp, ΔT, T  
Pressure control range 0-4 bar
Temperature control range -30 … 90 (with ext. Cryostat) °C
Electric conduct. cooling medium < 5 (optional: bypass ion exchanger) μS / cm
Electronic load
Maximum input voltage 12 V
Minimum input voltage 0 V
Maximum current 400 A
Voltage measurement accuracy ± 0.05 % RD | ± 0.02 % FS  
Current measurement accuracy ± 0.2 % RD | ± 0.05 % FS  
Impedance spectroscopy
Frequency range 10 μHz – 8 MHz  
Controlled voltage ± 5 / ± 15 V
Compliance voltage ± 28 V
Maximum current ± 3 A