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At least 127 records · Page 7

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NASA NTRS1989

Hydrogen-oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers

Hydrogen-oxygen SPE fuel cells and SPE electrolyzers (products of Hamilton Standard) both use a Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) as the sole electrolyte. The SPE cells have demonstrated a ten year life capability under load conditions. Ultimate life of PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers is primarily related to the chemical stability of the membrane. For perfluorocarbon proton-exchange membranes an accurate measure of the membrane stability is the fluoride loss rate. Millions of cell hours have contributed to establishing a relationship between fluroride loss rates and average expected ultimate cell life. Several features were introduced into SPE fuel cells and SPE electrolyzers such that applications requiring greater than or equal to 100,000 hours of life can be considered. Equally important as the ultimate life is the voltage stability of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells and electrolyzers. Here again the features of SPE fuel cells and SPE electrolyzers have shown a cell voltage stability in the order of 1 microvolt per hour. That level of stability were demonstrated for tens of thousands of hours in SPE fuel cells at up to 500 amps per square foot (ASF) current density. The SPE electrolyzers have demonstrated the same at 1000 ASF. Many future extraterrestrial applications for fuel cells require that they be self recharged. To translate the proven SPE cell life and stability into a highly reliable extraterrestrial electrical energy storage system, a simplification of supporting equipment is required. Static phase separation, static fluid transport and static thermal control will be most useful in producting required system reliability. Although some 200,000 SPE fuel cell hours were recorded in earth orbit with static fluid phase separation, no SPE electrolyzer has, as yet, operated in space.

Baldwin, R.↗

DOE OSTI2025

1,10-Phenanthroline-Iron Complex-Derived Fe-N-C Electrocatalysts: Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Activity and Stability Through Synthesis Tuning

The development of electrocatalysts composed of earth-abundant elements is essential for advancing the commercial application of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC). Among these, single-atom electrocatalysts, such as Fe-N-C, show great promise for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This study aims to improve the ORR activity and stability of Fe-N-C electrocatalysts by fine-tuning the straightforward 1,10-phenanthroline-iron complexation synthesis method. Key parameters, including iron-to-phenanthroline ratio, carbon powder surface area, and pyrolysis temperature were systematically varied to evaluate their influence on the resulting electrocatalysts. The findings of this study revealed that the electrocatalysts synthesized with 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) and high-surface-area Black Pearls (BP) possessed much better ORR activity than electrocatalysts prepared by using Vulcan carbon (lower surface area). Interestingly, electrocatalysts prepared with BP, but with a non-bidentate nitrogen-containing ligand molecule, such as imidazole, showed a much poorer activity, as the resulting material predominantly consisted of inactive structures, such as encapsulated iron nanoparticles and iron oxide, as evidenced by HR-TEM, EXAFS, and XRD. Therefore, the results suggest that only the synergistic combination of the bidentate ligand phenanthroline (Phen) and the high-surface-area carbon support (BP) favored the formation of ORR-active Fe-N-C single-atom species upon pyrolysis. The study also unveiled a significant enhancement in electrocatalyst stability during accelerated durability tests (and air storage) as the pyrolysis temperature was increased from 700 to 1300 °C, albeit at the expense of ORR activity, likely resulting from the generation of iron particles. Pyrolysis at 1050 °C yielded the electrocatalyst with the most favorable balance of activity and stability in rotating disk measurements, while maintaining moderate durability under PEM fuel cell operation. The insights obtained in this study may guide the development of more active efficient and durable electrocatalysts, synthesized via a simple method using earth-abundant elements, for application in PEMFC cathodes.

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION↗

NASA NTRS1997

Operation of the 25kW NASA Lewis Research Center Solar Regenerative Fuel Cell Tested Facility

Assembly of the NASA Lewis Research Center(LeRC)Solar Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) Testbed Facility has been completed and system testing has proceeded. This facility includes the integration of two 25kW photovoltaic solar cell arrays, a 25kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis unit, four 5kW PEM fuel cells, high pressure hydrogen and oxygen storage vessels, high purity water storage containers, and computer monitoring, control and data acquisition.

Solar Regenerative Fuel Cell electrolyzer↗

NASA NTRS2010

Fuel-Cell-Powered Vehicle with Hybrid Power Management

Figure 1 depicts a hybrid electric utility vehicle that is powered by hydrogenburning proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cells operating in conjunction with a metal hydride hydrogen-storage unit. Unlike conventional hybrid electric vehicles, this vehicle utilizes ultracapacitors, rather than batteries, for storing electric energy. This vehicle is a product of continuing efforts to develop the technological discipline known as hybrid power management (HPM), which is oriented toward integration of diverse electric energy-generating, energy-storing, and energy- consuming devices in optimal configurations. Instances of HPM were reported in five prior NASA Tech Briefs articles, though not explicitly labeled as HPM in the first three articles: "Ultracapacitors Store Energy in a Hybrid Electric Vehicle" (LEW-16876), Vol. 24, No. 4 (April 2000), page 63; "Photovoltaic Power Station With Ultracapacitors for Storage" (LEW- 17177), Vol. 27, No. 8 (August 2003), page 38; "Flasher Powered by Photovoltaic Cells and Ultracapacitors" (LEW-17246), Vol. 27, No. 10 (October 2003), page 37; "Hybrid Power Management" (LEW-17520), Vol. 29, No. 12 (December 2005), page 35; and "Ultracapacitor-Powered Cordless Drill" (LEW-18116-1), Vol. 31, No. 8 (August 2007), page 34. To recapitulate from the cited prior articles: The use of ultracapacitors as energy- storage devices lies at the heart of HPM. An ultracapacitor is an electrochemical energy-storage device, but unlike in a conventional rechargeable electrochemical cell or battery, chemical reactions do not take place during operation. Instead, energy is stored electrostatically at an electrode/electrolyte interface. The capacitance per unit volume of an ultracapacitor is much greater than that of a conventional capacitor because its electrodes have much greater surface area per unit volume and the separation between the electrodes is much smaller.

Eichenberg, Dennis J.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Non-Flow-Through Fuel Cell System Test Results and Demonstration on the SCARAB Rover

This paper describes the results of the demonstration of a non-flow-through PEM fuel cell as part of a power system on the SCARAB rover. A 16-cell non-flow-through fuel cell stack from Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. was incorporated into a power system designed to act as a range extender by providing power to the rover s hotel loads. This work represents the first attempt at a ground demonstration of this new technology aboard a mobile test platform. Development and demonstration were supported by the Office of the Chief Technologist s Space Power Systems Project and the Advanced Exploration System Modular Power Systems Project.

Scheidegger, Brianne, T.↗

NASA NTRS2012

Non-Flow-Through Fuel Cell System Test Results and Demonstration on the SCARAB Rover

This presentation describes the results of the demonstration of a non-flow-through PEM fuel cell as part of a power system on the SCARAB rover at the NASA Glenn Research Center. A 16-cell non-flow-through fuel cell stack from Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. was incorporated into a power system designed to act as a range extender by providing power to the SCARAB rover s hotel loads. The power system, including the non-flow-through fuel cell technology, successfully demonstrated its goal as a range extender by powering hotel loads on the SCARAB rover, making this demonstration the first to use the non-flow-through fuel cell technology on a mobile platform.

Scheidegger, Brianne↗

DOE OSTI2022

Discovering and Demonstrating a Novel High-Performing 2D-Patterned Electrode for Proton-Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Devices

Proton-exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) produces hydrogen with high efficiency and purity but uses high-loading platinum-group metal (PGM) catalysts. Such concerns call for the development of novel electrode architectures to improve catalyst utilization and mass activity, thus promoting PEMWE cost competitiveness for large-scale implementation. In this study, we demonstrated, for the first time, a novel two-dimensional (2D)-patterned electrode with edge effects to address these challenges. The edge effect was induced by membrane properties, potential distribution, and counter electrode coverage and could be optimized by tuning the catalyst layer dimensions. To achieve identical PEMWE performance, the optimal pattern saved the 21% anode PGM catalyst compared with the conventional catalyst fully covered electrode. The PGM catalyst could be further reduced by 61% to boost mass activity with no significant performance loss. The results also indicated that the electrode uniformity in PEMWE cells might not be as critical as that in PEM fuel cells. Finally, the novel 2D-patterned electrode could effectively reduce PGM catalyst loading, accelerating affordable and large-scale production of hydrogen and other value-added chemicals via electrolysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2021

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Electrode Compositions

This Snapshot summarizes several inventions made at Los Alamos National Laboratory that are believed to promise high power density and extended durability in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). In the laboratory these ion pair electrode and membrane innovations improve fuel cell performance under anhydrous conditions above 100 °C, and remain operable at lower temperatures as well

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

NASA NTRS2021

Effect of Reactant Pressure on Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Performance

It is an objective of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to return to the moon and to create sustained lunar operations. Since many applicable lander and upper stage vehicles utilize cryogenic hydrogen and oxygen propellants, it is appealing to incorporate fuel cells into potential mission concepts. A fuel cell could generate electricity, heat, and water from the residual hydrogen and oxygen propellants. Such a concept depends on the capability of the fuel cell to utilize dry, propellant-grade reactants at reduced pressures compared to typical fuel cell operating conditions. This report describes a NASA evaluation of two passive water removal, non-flow-through proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells: a twelve-cell 50 sq. cm active area stack and a seven-cell 150 sq. cm active area stack. Both stacks operated on research grade hydrogen and oxygen reactants supplied at pressures ranging from 20 psia up to the 45-48 psia design operating point, reliably supporting current densities of at least 450 mA/sq. cm at reduced pressures. Polarization curves, fitted with a semi-empirical equation for overpotential, show an increase in effective ohmic resistance and decrease in reversible cell potential, hydrogen crossover current, and Tafel slope when operating at lower pressures, resulting in a reduction in cell voltage at all current densities. Fitted parameters are compared to published values and rationalized with first principles explanations.

fuel cells↗

NASA NTRS1997

Balloon Fuel Cell Power System

NASA Lewis Research Center's Electrochemical Technology Branch has teamed with the NASA Wallops Flight Facility to demonstrate the operation of a hydrogen-oxygen proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell for application in the upper atmosphere. NASA Wallops' Balloon Programs Branch has a requirement for a high-power, long-duration power system for use on a scientific balloon platform. The current power system will not meet these needs. The objective of this program is to deliver a 200-W (minimum) fuel cell system that can deliver approximately 10 kWh of electrical energy.

Source record↗

DOE OSTI2022

Intermediate-Temperature Proton Exchange Membranes Based on Cerium Ultraphosphate Composited with Polybenzimidazole

This paper reports the rational fabrication and structural, thermal, mechanical and electrochemical characterization of a new type of intermediate-temperature (IT) polymer-inorganic composite (PIC) proton exchange membranes (PEMs) that are made of cerium ultraphosphate (CeP 5 O 14 —CUP) as the solid-state proton conductor composited with a high-temperature (HT) polybenzimidazole (PBI) as the polymeric binder. Here, flexible PBI-CUP PIC membranes with the thickness of ~135 μ m and CUP mass fraction of up to 75% were prepared by solution-casting without additional acid-doping (e.g., phosphoric acid). The proton conductivity of the fabricated IT-PIC-PEMs was up to 5.80 × 10 –2 S cm –1 as measured from a prototype IT PEM fuel cell (PEMFC) operated at 200 °C in the humidified hydrogen and air environment. This type of IT-PIC-PEMs also demonstrated sufficient mechanical strength and flexibility, excellent thermal stability (up to 350 °C), and very good durability of the proton conductivity (within the test duration of 500 h). The present experimental study shows the promising future of the IT-PIC-PEMs for applications in various IT electrochemical processes including IT-PEMFCs, IT-electrolyzers, etc.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

NASA NTRS2019

Thermal System Sizing Comparison of a PEM and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Systems on Mars

Power production is a key aspect to any Mars mission. One method for providing power throughout the day/night cycle, or to satisfy short-duration high-output power needs, is to utilize a regenerative fuel cell system for providing energy storage and nighttime or supplemental power. This study compares the total system mass for two types of fuel cell systems, proton exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide (SO), sized to provide 10 kW of electrical output power in the Mars environment. Two operating locations were examined; one near the equator at 4 Â°S latitude and one the higher northern latitude of 48Â°N. The systems were sized to operate throughout the year at these locations, where the radiator was sized for the worst-case warm condition and the insulation was sized for the worst-case cold condition. Using the selected system parameters, the results for both latitudes showed that the lightest system was the SO fuel cell with a PEM electrolyzer. This was mainly due to the higher operational temperature of the SO system enabled a significantly smaller radiator mass compared to that of the PEM fuel cell system. However, there was a significant difference in mass for the PEM system when operated near the equator as compared to the higher northern latitude. For the 10-kW output system this difference in mass was just under 100 kg.

Fuel Cells↗

DOE OSTI2023

Engineered Catalyst Support with Improved Durability at Higher Weight Percentage of Platinum

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a suitable electrochemical power source for heavy duty vehicle (HDV) applications due to their high efficiency and durability. The cathode of the fuel cell uses a higher geometric loading of platinum (∼0.2 to 0.4 mg Pt /cm 2 ) for the electrocatalysis of the kinetically sluggish Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) which requires higher weight percent loading of the metal (∼50%) on the carbon support to decrease the catalyst layer thickness and hence, the reactant transport losses. The conventionally used supports for platinum catalyst, such as the KetjenBlack TM type high surface area carbon (HSC) features limited mesopore area for the dispersion of Pt nanoparticles leading to increased aggregation and poor durability. Here, we show a new class of carbon materials known as the Engineered Catalyst Support (ECS) developed by Pajarito Powder with higher mesopore fraction for the dispersion of higher weight percentage of Pt nanoparticles. ECS materials can disperse up to 50% Pt by weight of the catalyst thereby enabling lower catalyst layer thickness with higher performance retained after durability test. A comprehensive set of physico-chemical and electrochemical studies in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) are reported to understand the performance and durability of Pt/ECS catalysts.

08 HYDROGEN↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Performance of a Regenerative Fuel Cell System for the Lunar Surface

Regenerative fuel cells (RFCs) are an attractive energy storage solution for lunar missions as a technology capable of providing a higher specific energy (i.e., W∙h/kg) than state-of-the-art packaged Li-ion battery systems. An RFC consists of the (1 & 2) electrochemical stacks (chemical to electrical energy conversion to supply electricity to an external load, i.e. the fuel cell reaction, and electrical to chemical energy conversion of supplied electrical power to dissociate water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, i.e. water electrolysis), (3) fluidic conditioning, (4) reactant storage, (5) avionics, (6) power management and distribution (PMAD), and (7) thermal management. NASA’s Glenn Research Center has designed, assembled, and tested a breadboard RFC sys-tem capable of operating autonomously for multiple simulated lunar day/night cycles in a laboratory environment. The system is comprised of a non-flow through proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack and a liquid-anode feed PEM electrolyzer (EZ) stack designed to electrochemically compress the reactants at balanced pressures up to 12.4 MPa (1800 psia). The fluidic conditioning, avionics, PMAD, and thermal management sub-systems are largely comprised of commercial-off-the-shelf components for this system-level development effort. The hardware is controlled by a CubeSat space processor running an operational program based on core flight architecture that can control the RFC hardware autonomously through a state machine with fault monitoring. The testing results highlighted here were completed with the system in an open-loop configuration such that reactants generated through water electrolysis were vented while gas cylinders supplied fuel cell operation. The breadboard operated autonomously, but there were five unplanned transitions to a safe state that required a manual restart after reviewing the data, determining a root cause, and implementing a solution. Four of the transitions were caused by the thermal management subsystem and the fifth was caused by a water management control issue in the EZ sub-system. The RFC system operated for over 550 hours with the final cycle being slightly abbreviated due to reasons unrelated to system performance.

Kerrigan Cain↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Performance of a Regenerative Fuel Cell System for the Lunar Surface

Kerrigan Cain↗

NASA NTRS2004

Emerging Fuel Cell Technology Being Developed: Offers Many Benefits to Air Vehicles

Fuel cells, which have recently received considerable attention for terrestrial applications ranging from automobiles to stationary power generation, may enable new aerospace missions as well as offer fuel savings, quiet operations, and reduced emissions for current and future aircraft. NASA has extensive experience with fuel cells, having used them on manned space flight systems over four decades. Consequently, the NASA Glenn Research Center has initiated an effort to investigate and develop fuel cell technologies for multiple aerospace applications. Two promising fuel cell types are the proton exchange membrane (PEM) and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). PEM technology, first used on the Gemini spacecraft in the sixties, remained unutilized thereafter until the automotive industry recently recognized the potential. PEM fuel cells are low-temperature devices offering quick startup time but requiring relatively pure hydrogen fuel. In contrast, SOFCs operate at high temperatures and tolerate higher levels of impurities. This flexibility allows SOFCs to use hydrocarbon fuels, which is an important factor considering our current liquid petroleum infrastructure. However, depending on the specific application, either PEM or SOFC can be attractive. As only NASA can, the Agency is pursuing fuel cell technology for civil uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) because it offers enhanced scientific capabilities, including enabling highaltitude, long-endurance missions. The NASA Helios aircraft demonstrated altitudes approaching 100,000 ft using solar power in 2001, and future plans include the development of a regenerative PEM fuel cell to provide nighttime power. Unique to NASA's mission, the high-altitude aircraft application requires the PEM fuel cell to operate on pure oxygen, instead of the air typical of terrestrial applications.

Walker, James F.↗

NASA NTRS2001

Energy Storage for Aerospace Applications

The NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has long been a major contributor to the development and application of energy storage technologies for NASAs missions and programs. NASA GRC has supported technology efforts for the advancement of batteries and fuel cells. The Electrochemistry Branch at NASA GRC continues to play a critical role in the development and application of energy storage technologies, in collaboration with other NASA centers, government agencies, industry and academia. This paper describes the work in batteries and fuel cell technologies at the NASA Glenn Research Center. It covers a number of systems required to ensure that NASAs needs for a wide variety of systems are met. Some of the topics covered are lithium-based batteries, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, and nanotechnology activities. With the advances of the past years, we begin the 21st century with new technical challenges and opportunities as we develop enabling technologies for batteries and fuel cells for aerospace applications.

Perez-Davis, Marla E.↗

NASA NTRS2003

ISRU Reactant, Fuel Cell Based Power Plant for Robotic and Human Mobile Exploration Applications

Three basic power generation system concepts are generally considered for lander, rover, and Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) assistant applications for robotic and human Moon and Mars exploration missions. The most common power system considered is the solar array and battery system. While relatively simple and successful, solar array/battery systems have some serious limitations for mobile applications. For typical rover applications, these limitations include relatively low total energy storage capabilities, daylight only operating times (6 to 8 hours on Mars), relatively short operating lives depending on the operating environment, and rover/lander size and surface use constraints. Radioisotope power systems are being reconsidered for long-range science missions. Unfortunately, the high cost, political controversy, and launch difficulties that are associated with nuclear-based power systems suggests that the use of radioisotope powered landers, rovers, and EVA assistants will be limited. The third power system concept now being considered are fuel cell based systems. Fuel cell power systems overcome many of the performance and surface exploration limitations of solar array/battery power systems and the prohibitive cost and other difficulties associated with nuclear power systems for mobile applications. In an effort to better understand the capabilities and limitations of fuel cell power systems for Moon and Mars exploration applications, NASA is investigating the use of in-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) produced reactant, fuel cell based power plants to power robotic outpost rovers, science equipment, and future human spacecraft, surface-excursion rovers, and EVA assistant rovers. This paper will briefly compare the capabilities and limitations of fuel cell power systems relative to solar array/battery and nuclear systems, discuss the unique and enhanced missions that fuel cell power systems enable, and discuss the common technology and system attributes possible for robotic and human exploration to maximize scientific return and minimize cost and risk to both. Progress made to date at the Johnson Space Center on an ISRU producible reactant, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell based power plant project to demonstrate the concept in conjunction with rover applications will be presented in detail.

Baird, Russell S.↗