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.
- In-House developed test bench automation system for all hydrogen test benches (AIP-MCS)
- Production and software from one source
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 |
| Mass Flow Sensors 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 |