Fuel cell test equipment, hydrogen fuel cell, PEM fuel cells

TECHNICAL DOCUMENT — Critical Features In Fuel Cell Testing

COMPUTERIZED TEST EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION CHART

		PS-CompuCell	PS-Dual Range	PS-Reformate	PS-Ultima
System Configuration
	Number of Individual Cells	1	1	1	5
	Maximum Power (W)	2000	2000	2000	800
	Number of Internal Humidifiers¹	2	2	2	10
	Automatic Water Removal		•	•
	Automatic Water Refill¹				•
	Heater Gas Lines¹	•	•	•
	Computer, ethernet capable, CD R/W	•	•	•	•
	Power Station Software	•	•	•	•
	Programmable Duty Cycle	•	•	•	•
Gas Management
	Low and High Oxidant Flow Rates		•
	Low and High Fuel Flow Rates		•
	Number of Oxidant Gas Flow Controllers	1	2	up to 2	5
	Number of Fuel Gas Flow Controllers	1	2	up to 4	5
	Pressure Transducers	•	•	•	•
	User Defined Flow Control Range	•	•	•	•
	Fuel & Oxidant Purge Lines	•	•	•	•
	Methanol supply line	•	•	•
TDI Electronic Load Bank
	TDI Electronic Load Bank	•	•	•	•
	Dynaload-High Quality, Low Voltage Measurements	•	•	•	•
	Accuracy: ± .25% FS for med/high ranges	•	•	•	•
	± .50% FS for low range	•	•	•	•
	Accuracy: ± 3% FS for all ranges	•	•	•	•
	Resolution: .25% of full scale	•	•	•	•
Measurements
	Cell Temperature, +/- 0.1 C	•	•	•	•
	Gas Temperature, +/- 0.1 C	•	•	•	•
	Gas Flow, +/- 2% FC	•	•	•	•
	Gas Pressure, 60 psig max.	•	•	•	•
	Cell Voltage, OCV to 0.05 V	•	•	•	•
	Cell Current	•	•	•	•
Safety
	Low Gas Pressure Shutdown	•	•	•	•
	Isolated Purge Gas for Fuel & Oxidant	•	•	•	•
	Fuel Enable Interlock Switch Protection	•	•	•	•
	Programmable Fault Protection of Fuel Cell	•	•	•	•
	Safety Alarm and Push Button Instrument Shutdown	•	•	•	•
	Automatic High Temperature Shutdown	•	•	•	•
¹	Available as an option

PowerStation™ Fuel Cell Test Station Design Blocks

So Equipped to Customize Your Automated Fuel Cell Testing with Sophisticated PowerStation Software

1^st Block - Creation of Automated Fuel Cell Operation Environment
Key Element	Design Feature	Configuration
Reactant Supply	• Control gas and liquid reactant flow rates • Control wide range of flow rates with high accuracy • Supply simulated Reformat gas mixtures • Control a constant or a stoichiometric flow rate	• High quality Mass Flow Controllers and Liquid Micro Pump (PS-DM) • Dual-range MFC setup (PS-DR) • Capable of mixing 4 anode gases and 2 cathode gases (PS-R) • Programmable testing profile
Temperature	• Maintain fuel cell operating temperature • Remove waste heat	• Extensive, seven temperature controllers • Assign thermocouples at user-defined locations • SSR outputs capable of control of water pump or cooling fan
Relative Humidity	• Humidify dry gas going into the fuel cell • Generate stable relative humidity under a wide range of reactant gas flow rates • Eliminate water slugs • Prevent vapor condensation	• Proprietary Double-bottle gas humidifier with three-stage heating zoon
Pressure	• Control fuel cell operating pressure • Monitor fuel cell inlet and outlet pressures	• High quality Back Pressure Regulators and Pressure Gauges • High accuracy pressure sensors and transducers • Two Re-locatable Pressure sensors
Water	• Remove production water	• Moisture trap with manual water draining • Water reservoir with automatic water draining
Load	• Control various fuel cell load s	• High accuracy electronic load with selective power ranges •
Safety	• Both hardware and software • Gas supply • Fuel cell operation • Communication Errors	• Front panel push button and User-defined shutdown parameters • Solenoid valves, check valves, and pressure sensors • Over-temperature, under-pressure and under-voltage shutdown • Watchdog monitor

2^nd Block - Fuel Cell Control Configuration		3^rd Block - Fuel Cell Control Software Feature
Control	Configuration	Feature	Function
Flow	• Set purge gas flow rate – safety feature • Set minimum reactant gas flow rate • Set stoichiometric flow ratio	Display	• Overview of entire fuel cell operating parameters and testing data • Popup operation command
Temperature	• Set gas humidifier temperature • Complete temperature controllers (up to 5 locations) • Set over-temperature shutdown – safety feature	Current, voltage, power	• On-screen real time control parameters • Constant, ramping, step and polarization test • Programmable testing profile • Repeat the testing profile form a saved file • Compatible of AC Impedance measurement
Pressure	• Assign pressure sensor (fuel cell inlet and outlet) • Set under-pressure shutdown – safety feature	Sampling	• Adjustable sampling rate • Tailor filing size (in long endurance tests)
Load	• Select electronic load voltage and current range to enhance measurement accuracy • Set under-voltage shutdown – safety feature	Data acquisition	• Reviewing real time data • In-situ downloading of data
Saving File	• Create control configurations • Save each configuration as an individual file • Export to spread sheet programs	ON/OFF	• On-screen ON/OFF • Automated Safety Shutdown

Testing Equipment

Computerized Equipment

User Controlled Equipment