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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

Non-Flow Through Fuel Cell Power Module Demonstration on the SCARAB Rover

NASA demonstrated the Advanced Product Water Removal (APWR) Non-Flow-Through (NFT) PEM fuel cell technology by powering the Scarab rover over three-(3) days of field operations. The latest generation APWR NFT fuel cell stackwas packaged by the Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Modular Power Systems (AMPS) team into a nominallyrated 1-kW fuel cell power module. This power module was functionally verified in a laboratory prior to field operations on the Scarab rover, which concluded on 2 September 2015. During this demonstration, the power module satisfied all required success criteria by supporting all electrical loads as the Scarab navigated the NASA Glenn Research Center.

Fuel Cell↗
NASA NTRS1989

Separation of gaseous hydrogen from a water-hydrogen mixture in a fuel cell power system operating in a weightless environment

A fuel cell power system for use in a weightless environment, such as in space, includes a device for removing water from a water-hydrogen mixture condensed from the exhaust from the fuel cell power section of the system. Water is removed from the mixture in a centrifugal separator, and is fed into a holding, pressure operated water discharge valve via a Pitot tube. Entrained nondissolved hydrogen is removed from the Pitot tube by a bleed orifice in the Pitot tube before the water reaches the water discharge valve. Water discharged from the valve thus has a substantially reduced hydrogen content.

Romanowski, William E.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Review—Micro-Fuel Cell Principal Biosensors for Monitoring Transdermal Volatile Organic Compounds in Humans

Knowledge of transduction mechanisms in biosensing applications paves the way for ultrasensitive and dynamic detection in living systems. Real-world biosensing applications where ultra-sensitivity and dynamic detection are paramount include monitoring the anesthetic agent concentration during surgery; the slightest variation in concentration can potentially result in a life-threatening overdose or, on the other end of the spectrum, the patient’s awareness during the procedure. We review the benefits and functions of the transcutaneous biosensor device compared with other current technology and discuss the sensor’s capability to accurately measure volatile anesthetic gas concentration in blood using fuel cell technology. We review fundamental concepts of fuel-cell technology for wearable bio-sensing applications. The fuel cell sensor can also continuously monitor other volatile organic compounds making it versatile with numerous potential applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2011

NASA Glenn Research Center's Fuel Cell Stack, Ancillary and System Test and Development Laboratory

At the NASA Glenn Research Center, a fully operational fuel cell test and evaluation laboratory is available which is capable of evaluating fuel cell components and systems for future NASA missions. Components and subsystems of various types can be operated and monitored under a variety of conditions utilizing different reactants. This fuel cell facility can test the effectiveness of various component and system designs to meet NASA's needs.

Loyselle, Patricia L.↗
DOE OSTI2020

System for capturing CO2 from a fuel cell

A carbon dioxide capture system for capturing carbon dioxide from an exhaust stream. The system may include a fuel cell configured to output a first exhaust stream comprising carbon dioxide and water. The system may further include an electrolyzer cell configured to receive a first portion of the first exhaust stream and output a second exhaust stream comprising oxygen and carbon dioxide. The fuel cell may be a solid oxide fuel cell. The electrolyzer cell may be a molten carbonate electrolysis cell.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
NASA NTRS2010

Fuel-Cell Power Source Based on Onboard Rocket Propellants

The use of onboard rocket propellants (dense liquids at room temperature) in place of conventional cryogenic fuel-cell reactants (hydrogen and oxygen) eliminates the mass penalties associated with cryocooling and boil-off. The high energy content and density of the rocket propellants will also require no additional chemical processing. For a 30-day mission on the Moon that requires a continuous 100 watts of power, the reactant mass and volume would be reduced by 15 and 50 percent, respectively, even without accounting for boiloff losses. The savings increase further with increasing transit times. A high-temperature, solid oxide, electrolyte-based fuel-cell configuration, that can rapidly combine rocket propellants - both monopropellant system with hydrazine and bi-propellant systems such as monomethyl hydrazine/ unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (MMH/UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide (NTO) to produce electrical energy - overcomes the severe drawbacks of earlier attempts in 1963-1967 of using fuel reforming and aqueous media. The electrical energy available from such a fuel cell operating at 60-percent efficiency is estimated to be 1,500 Wh/kg of reactants. The proposed use of zirconia-based oxide electrolyte at 800-1,000 C will permit continuous operation, very high power densities, and substantially increased efficiency of conversion over any of the earlier attempts. The solid oxide fuel cell is also tolerant to a wide range of environmental temperatures. Such a system is built for easy refueling for exploration missions and for the ability to turn on after several years of transit. Specific examples of future missions are in-situ landers on Europa and Titan that will face extreme radiation and temperature environments, flyby missions to Saturn, and landed missions on the Moon with 14 day/night cycles.

Ganapathi, Gani↗
DOE OSTI2020

Impact of Proton Activity on Fuel-Cell Performance (CRADA Final Report)

The key attribute that is being investigated is the dependence of the oxygen-reduction and hydrogen-oxidation reaction kinetics on proton activity. The influence of proton activity on the kinetics is also important in the determination of limiting factors that impact overall fuel-cell performance. At lower humidities, which are required to simplify fuel-cell water and thermal management (especially for higher-temperature operation) and enable next generation fuel cells, the ionomer water content will be different than that in today’s fuel cells. Such changes in water content directly impact the activity and concentration of protons. Thus, it is necessary to quantify this impact of proton activity on the reaction kinetics, and to determine means to mitigate any detrimental impacts to enable high performance. To realize the above goals of understanding the intrinsic interactions of proton activity on hydrogen-oxidation and oxygen-reduction kinetics, systematic investigations were carried out and a novel technique, a rapid microelectrode with environmental control, was realized. The experimental campaign at LBNL worked alongside that of TokyoTech and both were complemented by mathematical modeling of the key phenomena. The results demonstrated a robust method to analyze the kinetic behavior and an impact of proton activity, although greater delineation in terms of ion concentration versus activity was not obtained fully due in part to limited lab access during the COVID pandemic.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗
DOE OSTI2026

System-Level Efficiency Study of Modular DC/DC and Fuel Cell Stack Series–Parallel Configurations

This paper presents a system-level efficiency study of modular DC/DC converter and fuel cell stack configurations under series, parallel, and series–parallel connections. The investigation considers selected DC/DC converter topologies, including isolated and non-isolated architectures, boost, non-inverting buck-boost, and resonant converters, integrated with commercially available fuel cell stacks, including the Accelera FCE150, Ballard FCgen-HPS, and Toyota TFCM2. DC/DC converter modules are evaluated in modular configurations rated at 60 kW and 90 kW and two distinct output voltage ranges, specifically 580–730V and 780–930V, examining how different interconnection schemes impact overall system efficiency. The converters are evaluated under full load (100%), partial load (66%), and light load (33%) conditions, providing a comprehensive assessment of efficiency and operational characteristics across varying power demands. Approximately two-thousand efficiency data points are obtained from laboratory prototype–level component measurements and validated design evaluations across multiple converter topologies, modular configurations, voltage ranges, and load conditions, providing a robust dataset for comparative system-level efficiency analysis. The results highlight the effects of modularity and topology selection on system-level efficiency, offering a “playbook” framework for designers to select appropriate DC/DC converter arrangements and fuel cell stack connections for series, parallel, or hybrid configurations based on efficiency considerations.

DC/DC↗
NASA NTRS1999

Development of a Space-Rated Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell

Power systems for human spacecraft have historically included fuel cells due to the superior energy density they offer over battery systems depending on mission length and power consumption. As space exploration focuses on the evolution of reusable spacecraft and also considers planetary exploration power system requirements, fuel cells continue to be a factor in the potential system solutions.

Hoffman, William C., III↗
DOE OSTI2024

Power Electronics Manufacturing Improvements for Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Vehicles

The Marel Power Solutions project, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award DE-SC0023801, focused on advancing manufacturing techniques for power electronics in heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles. The research aimed to enhance system efficiency, reduce costs, and support broader adoption of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Key areas of investigation included power topology, thermal modeling, system architecture, and accessibility through software tools. Key Accomplishments: 1. Power Topology: - Developed an interleaved boost converter with optimized phase count, leveraging Marel’s proprietary Power Stacks. - Achieved reduced parasitic inductance and resistance, enabling high efficiency in DC-DC converters. 2. Thermal Modeling: - Integrated innovative cooling systems into compact Silicon Carbide (SiC) modules. - Simulations demonstrated the ability to dissipate significant heat (up to 7.5 kW), ensuring device reliability under heavy loads. 3. System Architecture: - Utilized simulation tools to analyze the impact of various fuel cell and vehicle parameters on efficiency. - Highlighted the role of smaller, modular improvements, such as enhanced DC-DC converters, in achieving system-wide gains. 4. Accessibility: - Evaluated and implemented MATLAB/Simulink code generation tools for real-world hardware applications. - Demonstrated the potential for rapid prototyping of custom power systems with reduced development costs. Impact and Benefits: - Efficiency and Cost Reduction: Marel’s cooling technology enhances SiC die performance, reducing the number of dies required and overall system size. - Scalability and Flexibility: The innovations support tailored solutions for diverse applications, from mass transit to mining vehicles. - Sustainability: The research promotes the integration of electrification technologies, helping meet rising energy demands sustainably. Conclusion: The project’s outcomes advance the state of power electronics for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, enabling more efficient, compact, and cost-effective solutions. These developments lay a foundation for future innovation, contributing to the broader adoption of clean energy technologies in transportation and other industries.

08 HYDROGEN↗
NASA NTRS2000

Recent Studies on Methanol Crossover in Liquid-Feed Direct Methanol Fuel Cells

In this work, the effects of methanol crossover and airflow rates on the cathode potential of an operating direct methanol fuel cell are explored. Techniques for quantifying methanol crossover in a fuel cell and for separating the electrical performance of each electrode in a fuel cell are discussed. The effect of methanol concentration on cathode potential has been determined to be significant. The cathode is found to be mass transfer limited when operating on low flow rate air and high concentrations of methanol. Improvements in cathode structure and operation at low methanol concentration have been shown to result in improved cell performance.

Valdez, T. I.↗
NASA NTRS1997

The Direct Methanol Liquid-Feed Fuel Cell

Until the early 1990's the idea of a practical direct methanol fuel cell from transportation and other applications was just that, an idea. Several types of fuel cells that operate under near ambient conditions were under development.

Methanol Fuel Cell↗
NASA NTRS1995

Studies on Methanol Crossover in Liquid-Feed Direct Methanol Pem Fuel Cells

The performance of liquid feed direct methanol fuel cells using various types of Nafion membranes as the solid polymer electrolyte have been studied. The rate of fuel crossover and electrical performance has been measured for cells with Nafion membranes of various thicknesses and equivalent weights. The crossover rate is found to decrease with increasing thickness and applied current. The dependence of crossover rate on current density can be understood in terms of a simple linear diffusion model which suggests that the crossover rate can be influenced by the electrode structure in addition to the membrane. The studies suggest that Nafion EW 1500 is a very promising alternate to Nafion EW 1100 for direct methanol fuel cells.

Methanol Pem Fuel↗
NASA NTRS1982

Alkaline regenerative fuel cell energy storage system for manned orbital satellites

It is pointed out that the alkaline regenerative fuel cell system represents a highly efficient, lightweight, reliable approach for providing energy storage in an orbiting satellite. In addition to its energy storage function, the system can supply hydrogen and oxygen for attitude control of the satellite and for life support. A summary is presented of the results to date obtained in connection with the NASA-sponsored fuel cell technology advancement program, giving particular attention to the requirements of the alkaline regenerative fuel cell and the low-earth mission. Attention is given to system design guidelines, weight considerations, gold-platinum cathode cell performance, matrix development, the electrolyte reservoir plate, and the cyclical load profile tests.

Martin, R. E.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Bridging interfacial properties and cell performance: A multiscale model for proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells

Here, to elucidate the impact of local interfaces on mass-transport resistance and overall cell performance of low-loaded proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), we present a multiscale modeling framework incorporating a novel modified agglomerate model. The model considers three distinct Pt-electrolyte interfaces: Pt on the carbon surface covered by either ionomer or water film and Pt inside carbon nanopores. Detailed mass-transport voltage-loss breakdowns reveal that coupled agglomerate-interface-scale mass transport dominates the mass-transport loss. The ionomer poisons the exterior-Pt surface through suppressing O 2 adsorption and intrinsic ORR activity, leading to low current-density performance. Conversely, interior-Pt interface enhances the kinetic performance but limits high current-density performance due to its low interfacial permeability. The exterior-Pt/water interface demonstrates superior kinetic performance and mass transport, though its practical implementation requires ensuring proton transport. By coupling the multiscale CL properties with ink parameters, the model identifies an optimal I to C ratio of approximately 0.5, a moderate value where the ionomer content is sufficient to guarantee proton transport without fully covering the Pt surface and forming large agglomeration, thus allowing the utilization of the Pt-water interface and avoiding high mass-transport loss. Overall, the model helps unravel limiting phenomena across different operating regimes and provides routes for optimizing performance.

Cell diagnostic↗
NASA NTRS2009

Regenerative Performance of the NASA Symmetrical Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Design

The NASA Glenn Research Center is developing both a novel cell design (BSC) and a novel ceramic fabrication technique to produce fuel cells predicted to exceed a specific power density of 1.0 kW/kg. The NASA Glenn cell design has taken a completely different approach among planar designs by removing the metal interconnect and returning to the use of a thin, doped LaCrO3 interconnect. The cell is structurally symmetrical. Both electrodes support the thin electrolyte and contain micro-channels for gas flow-- a geometry referred to as a bi-electrode supported cell or BSC. The cell characteristics have been demonstrated under both SOFC and SOE conditions. Electrolysis tests verify that this cell design operates at very high electrochemical voltage efficiencies (EVE) and high H2O conversion percentages, even at the low flow rates predicted for closed loop systems encountered in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications. For UAVs the volume, weight and the efficiency are critical as they determine the size of the water tank, the solar panel size, and other system requirements. For UAVs, regenerative solid oxide fuel cell stacks (RSOFC) use solar panels during daylight to generate power for electrolysis and then operate in fuel cell mode during the night to power the UAV and electronics. Recent studies, performed by NASA for a more electric commercial aircraft, evaluated SOFCs for auxiliary power units (APUs). System studies were also conducted for regenerative RSOFC systems. One common requirement for aerospace SOFCs and RSOFCs, determined independently in each application study, was the need for high specific power density and volume density, on the order of 1.0 kW/kg and greater than 1.0 kW/L. Until recently the best reported performance for SOFCs was 0.2 kW/kg or less for stacks. NASA Glenn is working to prototype the light weight, low volume BSC design for such high specific power aerospace applications.

Cable, Thomas L.↗