Fuel Cell Systems Department

The Fuel Cell Systems department is dedicated to the simulation-based development and qualification of fuel cell systems and components with the aim of creating efficient and durable solutions for emission-free energy conversion in automotive and stationary applications.

Our goals are the simulation-based development of fuel cell systems and the qualification of system components and materials as essential components of emission-free energy conversion systems in automotive and stationary applications.

The description of the fuel cell and the fuel cell system in suitable validated models enables us to analyse the behaviour of the system even in extreme conditions, to design controllers, to examine variations in the system and to carry out fault analyses. The models can also be used for the initial dimensioning of a system.

At the same time, we are working on optimising the service life and reducing the costs of fuel cell systems and components by developing qualification methods and flexible test bench designs. Here, we combine our expertise in system modelling with the operational management of component test benches in order to be able to simulate real system environments in test tasks (hardware in the loop).

Abgebildet sind 3 Brennstoffzellensysteme in einer Laborumgebung.

Our Potential

Our team of 11 employees has access to an extensive scientific infrastructure that allows us to conduct tests on materials and individual components as well as system tests under realistic conditions. In addition, special single-cell test benches with comprehensive analytics can be used to investigate issues relating to service life.

  • – System Test Benches
  • – Flexible single-cell test benches
  • – 2 x 3 test stations for long-term system-related investigations
  • – In-situ characterisation (i-V, EIS, CV, LSV, limiting current density) of fuel cell components and individual cells
  • – spatially resolved measurements
  • – 3 simulations workstations (Software: MATLAB/Simulink, Python, AVL Cruise-M, Octave)
  • – Simulation of fuel cells and fuel cell systems
  • – Control unit development for fuel cell systems
  • – Artificial neural networks (artificial intelligence) in the field of fuel cells
  • – Software used: NI LabVIEW, NI Diadem, mySQL
  • – CAD-supported test bench development
Abgeildet sind Werkstoffproben und eine Emissionskammer.

Contact

Head of Department Fuel Cell Systems

Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Misz
+49-203-7598-3313

Contact

Portraitfoto von Christian Heßke

Christian Heßke

Team Lead Component Testing
Porträt von Matthias Bahr.

Matthias Bahr

Research Assistant Simulation

Examples of our Work

MUSCL: ZBT develops degradation model for optimising the operating strategy of fuel cell trucks

Fuel cell systems can be a sustainable alternative to diesel drives in long-distance lorry transport. In a new research project, ZBT is developing a degradation model to simultaneously maximise the energy efficiency and service life of fuel cells through efficient operating strategies.

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