Metal hydride fuel cell

Metal hydride fuel cells are a subclass of alkaline fuel cells that have been under research and development,[1][2][3][4][5] as well as scaled up successfully in operating systems.[6][7] A notable feature is their ability to chemically bond and store hydrogen within the fuel cell itself.

1.5 kW Metal Hydride Fuel Cell Stack

Characteristics

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Metal hydride fuel cells have demonstrated the following characteristics:[8][9][10]

  • The ability to be recharged with electrical energy (similar to NiMH batteries)
  • Operating at low temperatures (down to −20 °C)
  • Fast "cold start" properties
  • Ability to operate for limited periods of time with no external hydrogen fuel source, enabling "hot swapping" of fuel canisters

Performance

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Electrode active areas of metal hydride fuel cells have been scaled up from 60 cm2 to 250 cm2, enabling systems to be scaled up to 500 Watts.[11] The scaling up of electrode active areas also provided capabilities to develop higher power fuel cell stacks, each with 1500 Watts of power.[6] Metal hydride fuel cells have achieved a current density of 250 mA/cm2.[12] To test durability, fuel cell stacks were successfully operated for more than 7000 hours.[12]

Operating systems and applications

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Operating 1.0 kW Metal Hydride Fuel Cell System

During the earlier phases of product development, there was a focus on single fuel cells and fuel cell stacks composed of multiple cells. The target applications included critical backup power for military and commercial applications.[13] The next phase was to design and build complete fuel cell systems that could be taken outside of the laboratory. Initial 50 Watt laboratory-based demonstration systems were integrated into 50 Watt portable systems with more robust packaging and interfacing.[12] Additional developments in both the fuel cell stack and system integration enabled a 1.0 kW system, complete with an inverter and onboard hydrogen storage using metal hydride storage canisters, to be operated and demonstrated in public.[6][14] Further developments in metal hydride fuel cell systems were pursued for the field power needs of soldiers, resulting in a prototype system meeting deployment requirements.[15] In tandem with product development, there was also a focus on developing capabilities for manufacturing and testing.[16] Metal hydride fuel cell systems have been integrated into microgrid systems at military bases for testing and evaluation.[17] Despite challenges,[18] the military maintains an active interest in fuel cells for a broad range of applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicle, light-duty trucks, buses, and wearable technology systems.[19][20][21][22] Development of metal hydride fuel cell systems is continuing for military applications, with onboard hydrogen generation and fuel cells up to 5.0 kW.[23][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Chartouni, D.; Kuriyama, N.; Kiyobayashi, T.; Chen, J. (2002-09-01). "Metal hydride fuel cell with intrinsic capacity". International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 27 (9): 945–952. doi:10.1016/S0360-3199(01)00186-0. ISSN 0360-3199.
  2. ^ Wang, Chunsheng; Appleby, A. John; Cocke, David L. (2004). "Alkaline Fuel Cell with Intrinsic Energy Storage". Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 151 (2): A260. Bibcode:2004JElS..151A.260W. doi:10.1149/1.1640627.
  3. ^ Wang, X.H.; Chen, Y.; Pan, H.G.; Xu, R.G.; Li, S.Q.; L.X., Chen; Chen, C.P.; Wang, Q.D. (20 December 1999). "Electrochemical properties of Ml(NiCoMnCu)5 used as an alkaline fuel cell anode". Journal of Alloys and Compounds. 293–295: 833–837. doi:10.1016/S0925-8388(99)00367-9.
  4. ^ Tanaka, H.; Kaneki, N.; Hara, H.; Shimada, K.; Takeuchi, T. (April 1986). "La—Ni system porous anode in an alkaline fuel cell". The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering. 64 (2): 267–271. doi:10.1002/cjce.5450640216.
  5. ^ Lee, S.; Kim, J.; Lee, H.; Lee, P.; Lee, J. (29 March 2002). "The Characterization of an Alkaline Fuel Cell That Uses Hydrogen Storage Alloys". Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 149 (5): A603. Bibcode:2002JElS..149A.603L. doi:10.1149/1.1467365.
  6. ^ a b c Fok, Kevin; English, Nathan; Privette, Robert; Wang, Hong; Wong, Diana; Lowe, Timothy; Madden, Paul (October 2008). "Powering Up Metal Hydride Fuel Cells for Military Applications". Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  7. ^ Lototskyy, Mykhaylo; Tolj, Ivan; Pickering, Lydia; Sita, Cordellia; Barbir, Frano; Yartys, Volodymyr (February 2017). "The use of metal hydrides in fuel cell applications". Progress in Natural Science: Materials International. 27 (1): 3–20. doi:10.1016/j.pnsc.2017.01.008. hdl:10566/2624.
  8. ^ Ovshinsky, Stanford; Fok, Kevin; Venkatesan, Srinivasan; Corrigan, Dennis (May 2–4, 2005). "Metal Hydride Fuel Cells For UPS And Emergency Power Applications". BATTCON 2005 International Battery Conference and Trade Show.
  9. ^ Schwartz, Brian; Fritzsche, Hellmut (28 February 2009). The Science and Technology of an American Genius: Stanford R Ovshinsky. World Scientific Pub Co Inc. ISBN 978-9812818393.
  10. ^ Encyclopedia of electrochemical power sources. Garche, Jürgen., Dyer, Chris K. Amsterdam: Academic Press. 2009. ISBN 9780444527455. OCLC 656362152.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ Fok, Kevin (4 December 2006). "Metal Hydride Fuel Cells, A New and Practical Approach for Backup and Emergency Power Applications". INTELEC 06 - Twenty-Eighth International Telecommunications Energy Conference. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1109/INTLEC.2006.251656. ISBN 1-4244-0430-4. S2CID 43062441.
  12. ^ a b c Fok, Kevin (May 2007). "Recent Advances in Metal Hydride Fuel Cell Technology for UPS/Emergency Power Applications". Battcon Stationary Battery Conference. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  13. ^ Materials for fuel cells. Gasik, Michael, 1962-, Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining. Boca Raton: CRC Press. 2008. ISBN 978-1-84569-483-8. OCLC 424570885.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ^ Godula-Jopek, Agata; Jehle, Walter; Wellnitz, Jorg (November 2012). Hydrogen Storage Technologies: New Materials, Transport and Infrastructure. Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. doi:10.1002/9783527649921. ISBN 9783527649921.
  15. ^ Lowe, T. D. (2008). "Mobile Fuel Cell Configurations for the U.S. Military". Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium 2008.
  16. ^ Energy Technologies, Inc. (December 17, 2009). "Energy Technologies Awarded Third Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Grant for Advanced Research, Development & Commercialization". Energy Technologies, Inc. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
  17. ^ Madden, P. D. (March 23, 2016). "Modular, Scalable, Micro Grid Incorporating Traditional and Renewable Energy Systems". Microgrid Global Summit 2016.
  18. ^ "Fuel Cells Fail to Make Inroads With the Military". www.nationaldefensemagazine.org. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  19. ^ "4 Ways Fuel Cells Power Up the U.S. Military". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2020-03-24.
  20. ^ "Chevrolet Silverado ZH2 is a Fuel Cell-Powered Heavy-Duty Military Truck". Automobile. 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  21. ^ Judson, Jen (2017-08-08). "Hydrogen fuel cell technology could bring stealth to Army vehicles". Defense News. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  22. ^ "Air Force demonstrating hydrogen as alternate fuel source". U.S. Air Force. 15 February 2018. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  23. ^ "Energy Technologies Inc. - Onsite Hydrogen". www.onsitehydrogen.com. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  24. ^ "Ultimate Fuel Cells". Ultimate Fuel Cells. Energy Technologies Inc. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
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