Intelligent Energy showcasing 100kW hydrogen fuel cell architecture at JSAE Automotive Engineering Exposition
15 May 2015
Intelligent Energy will showcase its evaporatively-cooled 100kW automotive fuel cell architecture (earlier post) at the JSAE Automotive Engineering Exposition in Japan, 20-22 May.
The company’s unique stack technology offers leading power densities of 3.5 kW/l (volumetric) and 3.0 kW/kg (gravimetric), while being engineered for low-cost, high-volume series production. Intelligent Energy’s 100kW architecture will be available to vehicle manufacturers through technology licensing programs and joint development agreements.
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| 100kW automotive fuel cell. Click to enlarge. | ||
Our proprietary, evaporatively-cooled (EC) technology is a crucial enabler for achieving new, high stack power densities. Intelligent Energy’s EC design negates the requirement for individual cooling channels between cells. This reduces the mass and provides packaging and weight advantages when compared to conventional liquid-cooled fuel cell stacks.
—James Batchelor, Intelligent Energy’s Motive managing director
Thermal management for the EC fuel cell stacks removes heat generated during the electrochemical process via the evaporation of injected water. This approach eliminates the need for a humidifier and a separate stack cooling loop as used on other fuel cell systems, resulting in both a simplified system balance-of-plant (BOP) and reduced fuel cell stack size and weight.
The EC fuel cell stack and system design feature robust, thin bipolar metallic plate construction, an innovative fluid and power management architecture, and smart control system software. The overall result is a compact and power dense system that requires fewer balance of plant components than conventional fuel cell systems, the company says.
Intelligent Energy has an existing collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation. The partnership introduced the world’s first type-approved fuel cell powered scooter, which utilizes Intelligent Energy’s 4kW fuel cell systems. The two companies have also established a joint venture that manufactures stacks and fuel cell systems from a ready to scale production facility in Japan.
Resources
Warburton, A., Mossop, D., Burslem, B., Rama, P. et al. (2013) “Development of an Evaporatively Cooled Hydrogen Fuel Cell System and its Vehicle Application,” SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-0475 doi: 10.4271/2013-01-047510.4271/2013-01-0475.
Use the reaction water for cooling.
Posted by: SJC | 15 May 2015 at 11:20 AM
"Use the reaction water for cooling" after storing it and letting it cool, or cooling... (lots of options)
The scooter FC power pak would make a great range extender for EV's. FCEV's should be based on the smallest cheapest H2 FC just for range extending. Make it like a generator with a standard power connector for all EV's.
Posted by: GdB | 15 May 2015 at 12:20 PM
@GdB: A 4KW FC may be a bit too small for a PHEV-FC but the 100 KW unit is too large for the average needs.
A PHEV-FC with larger batteries (30 kWh or so) and a small (15 KW) FC to extend range could be a good fit to run 80+ % of the time on electricity and 20% on H2.
Posted by: HarveyD | 15 May 2015 at 12:47 PM
"..via the evaporation of injected water.."
This can be reaction water.
Posted by: SJC | 15 May 2015 at 01:44 PM
Check out the SAE Technical Paper (free preview) which describes the Intelligent Energy London Taxi Case Study. The London Taxi had a 14 kWh battery and a 30 kW fuel cell (close to HarveyD's specs). This is a good application for a fuel cell. A taxi covers many miles every day and needs to quickly refuel/recharge. Also, an H2 infrastructure is not required since refueling (preferably by Solar power) could be done at the Taxi Depot.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 15 May 2015 at 01:57 PM