HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Nancy: Here are some more slides with possible useful graphicsNancy: Here are some more slides with possible useful graphics
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Hawaii Fuel Cell Test FacilityHawaii Fuel Cell Test Facility
• University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii Own and operate equipmentOwn and operate equipment Support manpowerSupport manpower Develop projects & partnershipsDevelop projects & partnerships
• UTC Fuel CellsUTC Fuel Cells Provide specifications for Provide specifications for
infrastructure and test standsinfrastructure and test stands Management support & trainingManagement support & training
• HECOHECO Site support and infrastructure Site support and infrastructure
developmentdevelopment
• ONRONR Funding Funding ApplicationsApplications General view of Test Facility
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
FY03 Fuel Cell ActivitiesFY03 Fuel Cell Activities
• Cell developmentCell development• Novel bipolar platesNovel bipolar plates• Large area nanoscale fabricationLarge area nanoscale fabrication
• Testing Testing • Cell performance and durabilityCell performance and durability• Thermal and water managementThermal and water management• Fueling issuesFueling issues
• ““Hardware-in-the-Loop” for Hardware-in-the-Loop” for Rapid PrototypingRapid Prototyping• Implement major components of Implement major components of
system imposing computer based system imposing computer based control functions for dynamic control functions for dynamic operationoperation
Front view of Test Stand
These activities support development of proposed fuel cell systemThese activities support development of proposed fuel cell system
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
The Military RequirementThe Military Requirement
• Long endurance power supplies for:Long endurance power supplies for:– Long-dwell sensor systems.Long-dwell sensor systems.
– Soldier power systemsSoldier power systems
• Primary batteriesPrimary batteries– ExpensiveExpensive
– HeavyHeavy
– Low enduranceLow endurance
– Use heavy metals such as lithium & cadmium which are poisonous to the Use heavy metals such as lithium & cadmium which are poisonous to the environmentenvironment
– A major logistics problem (nightmare??)A major logistics problem (nightmare??)• A “Battery Unit” dedicated to bringing batteries to the front linesA “Battery Unit” dedicated to bringing batteries to the front lines
• Soldiers used 12 batteries per night in Gulf II for powering their electronicsSoldiers used 12 batteries per night in Gulf II for powering their electronics
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Fuel Cells are the Solution!Fuel Cells are the Solution!
• Electrochemical deviceElectrochemical device• Converts hydrogen and oxygen into Converts hydrogen and oxygen into
electricity and heatelectricity and heat• When hydrogen is the fuel, pure water When hydrogen is the fuel, pure water
is the only emissionis the only emission• Long enduranceLong endurance• Low heat & noise signaturesLow heat & noise signatures• Many applications:Many applications:
• TransportationTransportation• Stationary based distributed energyStationary based distributed energy• Unmanned underwater vehiclesUnmanned underwater vehicles• Unmanned aerial vehiclesUnmanned aerial vehicles• Remote instrumentationRemote instrumentation• Soldier power systemsSoldier power systems
A military “Mission-Enabling” technologyA military “Mission-Enabling” technology
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Fuel Cell System = Stack +BOSFuel Cell System = Stack +BOS
Control Systems
Air Supply
Thermal Management
Water Management
Electric System
fuel cell
Application
Fuel Supply
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
PEM Fuel Cell StacksPEM Fuel Cell Stacks
• Preferred solution for many military applications.Preferred solution for many military applications.
• High specific energyHigh specific energy
• Environmentally benign Environmentally benign
• Very ExpensiveVery Expensive– Designed for maximum power density and long lifeDesigned for maximum power density and long life
– High cost materialsHigh cost materials
– High production costHigh production cost
• High cost stacks warranted in some “mission-High cost stacks warranted in some “mission-enabling” applicationsenabling” applications
• BUTBUT many applications could use a lower many applications could use a lower performance fuel cell of modest cost.performance fuel cell of modest cost.– 100’s of hrs vs 1,000’s hrs100’s of hrs vs 1,000’s hrs
The DoD needs an inexpensive fuel cellThe DoD needs an inexpensive fuel cell
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Major Fuel Cell ComponentsMajor Fuel Cell Components
• Collector platesCollector plates– Distribute reactant gasesDistribute reactant gases
– Separate individual cellsSeparate individual cells
– Conduct the current Conduct the current produced by the fuel cell produced by the fuel cell reactionreaction
• Membrane Electrode Membrane Electrode Assembly (“MEA”)Assembly (“MEA”)– Conduct protonsConduct protons
– Gas impermeableGas impermeable
– Coated with catalystCoated with catalyst
PEMFC stack
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Low Cost Catalyst DevelopmentLow Cost Catalyst Development
apparatus:basic process:
gas feed
heated substrate
thin film condensate vacu
um
cha
mb
er
negative electrode
+
plasma
target
• Important process parameters:Important process parameters:
– Ambient Pressure,Ambient Pressure,
– Gas Feed Composition (e.g., Ar, Ar/OGas Feed Composition (e.g., Ar, Ar/O22))
– Substrate TemperatureSubstrate Temperature
– Plasma PowerPlasma Power
magnetron gun
• HNEI Sputtering System:HNEI Sputtering System:
– 3 guns for co-sputtering mixed materials3 guns for co-sputtering mixed materials
– Gas Feed Options (Ar, Ar/OGas Feed Options (Ar, Ar/O22, etc.), etc.)
– Flow, pressure, temperature & power Flow, pressure, temperature & power controlcontrol
HAWAII NATURAL ENERGY INSTITUTECEROS Review July 17, 2003 www.hnei.hawaii.edu
Mixed Metal Catalyst ResearchMixed Metal Catalyst Research
Sputtered Mixed Metal Thin Film H2 Catalysts
-0.10
-0.09
-0.08
-0.07
-0.06
-0.05
-0.04
-0.03
-0.02
-0.01
0.00
-0.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.4 -0.3 -0.2 -0.1 0.0
hydrogen overpotential (V)
curr
ent (A
)
NiMoCoMoNiFeCoNiNi
