Ultimate Fuel Cells
What Are Fuel Cells?
- Efficient electrical power generation from hydrogen fuel and oxygen from air
- Clean operation with only water and heat by-products
- Separate power and energy components; can add fuel canisters for hours or days of additional runtime.
Fuel cells are power generation devices that operate on hydrogen and oxygen to provide clean, efficient electrical power with only water and heat as byproducts. Fuel cells can provide power for a variety of applications including portable, stationary, and transportation. Unlike battery systems, fuel cell systems have separate energy storage and power generation components, making them well-suited for backup power applications. With fuel cells, the runtime can be extended for many hours or days by adding inexpensive hydrogen cylinders rather than investing in extensive battery banks. Fuel cell backup power system products are available and have recently been used in hurricane and blackout conditions to provide critical power. However, further advances are needed in cost, durability, and reliability to achieve widespread introduction into the backup power market. The metal hydride fuel cell (MHFC) offers a practical, low cost approach for fuel cell backup power systems.
 Fuel Cells for Back Up Power
|
Low Cost Manufacturable Approach
| Metal Hydride Fuel Cells VS. | Conventional Ambient Temperature Fuel Cells |
|---|---|
-
Plastic meshes - Carbon powders - Non-platinum catalysts - Nickel screens and tabs |
-
Expensive platinum catalysts - Expensive membranes - Expensive bipolar plates |
Metal Hydride Fuel Cells: Features & Benefits
| Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
Low
Cost Components Lower initial & life cycle costs Instant Start Capability Rapid start is key for all applications Good Low Temperature Performance |
Suitable
for operations to -40 °C Long Life Potential Robustness & Durability Stores & Releases Energy like a Battery Capabilities for power bridging & transients |
Metal hydride fuel cell (MHFC)
technology has been scaled up and demonstrated
in stacks and systems ranging up to 5.0 kW.
This enables 
fuel
cell stack building blocks in the range of 1-10
kW for military, industrial and other backup power generation requirements.
Simultaneously, a specific power capability
of 200 W/kg has now been achieved - more than
double the specific power previously reported
for ambient temperature fuel cells without platinum
catalysts. This 200 W/kg specific power rivals
that of PEM (proton exchange membrane) stacks
now being demonstrated in backup power applications. Furthermore, ETI's technology has key advantages in performance and cost.
The fundamental materials durability of the
MHFC technology has been demonstrated by the
operation of several multicell stacks for 8,000
hours. Unique charge storage characteristics
of the metal hydride active material provide
for special features including instant start,
fuel hot-swap capabilities, good low temperature
performance, and inherent bridging and transient
handling capabilities. The MHFC is comprised
of low cost components, including non-platinum
catalysts, carbon powders, nickel meshes, plastic
binders, and plastic stack components.
Fabrication and manufacturing of the MHFC involves
conventional processing equipment similar to
that used commercially in the battery industry.
MHFC technology offers an excellent opportunity
for fuel cell stacks that overcome the serious
cost issues facing the fuel cell industry.
Instant Start Capability
- Instant start performance
- Capabilities to operate without hydrogen fuel providing: Fuel hot-swap capabilities and continued operation even with fuel supply interruptions for short time frames.
