HYDROGEN FUEL CELL

Why ElectroChem
Types of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Applications

Why ElectroChem Hydrogen Fuel Cells

With over 40 years of fuel cell development experience, ElectroChem is a leader in the manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cells for a variety of applications, including aero space, transportation, residential homes, back-up power supplies and laptops.

Our hydrogen fuel cells are made with superior quality, including:

• Sophisticated Isotropic Graphite Plate
• High Precision Gasket Material
• Exhaustive Quality Control Process

ElectroChem's  Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hardwareis available with or without the MEA, allowing the customers to test and evaluate their own various materials and components.  The hydrogen fuel cell hardware is designed for ease of use and many re-assemblies.   In addition to our regular offering of these hydrogen fuel cells, ElectroChem also manufactures these fuel cells according to the customers’ specifications.

The Basics of Hydrogen Fuel Cells

A basic fuel cell hardware unit consists of separator plates, current collector plates, membrane electrode assembly (MEA), gaskets, and possibly heaters. All the fuel cell requires to generate electricity is hydrogen and oxygen gas, or air.

Flow fields machined in to the graphite separator plates allow for flow of reactants and provide excellent electrical contact. Special, low porosity, high purity graphite is used to guarantee a gas tight seal. Current is collected by connection to gold-plated copper contact plates. Separate voltage connectors are provided directly in each cell block for maximum accuracy in iR measurements. Each unit includes resistive heaters and thermocouple wells for accurate temperature control.

A reference electrode is provided in some of the hardware (identified with “ref” or “R”). It consists of a high purity platinum wire inserted in to the anode flow field so that it is in direct contact with the input hydrogen gas stream. Individual electrode potentials can be directly measured relative to this reference electrode to allow researchers to identify individual electrode characteristics using a high impedance potentiometer.

Fuel Cells without MEA

ElectroChem's fuel cell hardware is available without the MEA, allowing the customers to test and evaluate their own product. The hardware is designed for ease of use and many re-assemblies. An individual can use their own MEA to be placed between graphite cellblocks, or purchase them through ElectroChem.

Separator Plates and Different Flow Fields

Why Different Flow Fields? One of the major roles for the fuel cell separator plate is to establish uniform distribution and pressure drop of reactants across the fuel cell to supply the reactants and to remove the product water/gas. Although the overall flow field design concepts based on the fluid dynamic phenomena are complex, advances in fuel cell separator plate design and operation on the past have established basic flow field patterns. Typical types are Column, Serpentine, Column and Interdigitated (Custom). By utilizing different flow field designs, the researcher can study the impact of gas flow on the hydrogen fuel cell’s performance.

Stacks

The power output of a single fuel cell is limited. Therefore, in order to raise the amount of energy coming from the fuel cell, multiple cells are needed. Fuel cell stacks are multiple cells attached in series. Along with offering a 50W fuel cell stack, we also offer custom stacks that let the buyer determine the total output power.

ElectroChem's fuel cell stack is designed for ease of use and reliability. This unit will give you years of trouble free operation. The EFC50-ST fuel cell stack can operate without external humidification at pressures up to 3 atmospheres. The versatility of ElectroChem's stacks allows them to be used with H2 and O2, or with Air. No gas re-circulation is required, under normal operating conditions; per cell depending on the operating conditions and duration of operation. A customer can expect power output in the range of: 10 to 20 Watt per cell.

Cell Components

ElectroChem also provides all different components to assemble your own fuel cell hardware. If you already own ElectroChem hardware, and want to add another bi-polar plate or need additional nuts and bolts, they are all listed here. Of course, you can also contact us for any customization needs.

APPLICATIONS Of Single Cells and Stacks

ElectroChem has experience in manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells for a variety of applications for:

• Fuel Cell Catalyst Development
• Membrane Development
• Impedance Measurement
• Half Cell Studies
• Fuel Cell Modeling