A liquid cooled HT-PEM stack developed at ZBT has been integrated with a reformer-CHP setup in Greece
Within the Eurostars project HyRIS “Development of a combined Hydrogen and Power production system with High Temperature PEM fuel cells” (E! 5094), ZBT has developed a high temperature PEM fuel cell stack with a nominal capacity of 1 kWel. The HT PEM stack was finally coupled to a reformer module at Helbio’s laboratory in Patras, Greece.
The scope of the overall project was the development, design and manufacture of a combined system for the production of hydrogen, electrical energy and heat (CHP combined heat power) from various sources such as conventional fuels (propane, LPG, natural gas) as well as renewable fuels like biogas. Hydrogen was produced by a steam reforming module (Helbio), coupled to the fuel cell module and and subsequently the co-generation of electrical energy and heat was demonstrated.
Main focus of ZBT activities was the development of the fuel cell stack based on the HT-PEM MEA developed by the project partner Advent and the integration into the reformer unit developed by the partner Helbio. The 25 cell stack has integrated cooling media circuits which allow the use of standard thermo oils operable at 180 °C. The bipolar plates were produced based on ZBT’s PPS-compound materials. Gaskets and further cell and stack components have been manufactured at ZBT.
The reformer module and the fuel cell module have shown very good and stable performance both operated individually and coupled. The target of a reformer coupled HT PEM stack delivering an electrical power output of 1 kW was successfully reached. The technology of the liquid cooled fuel cell stack is now basis for further development and commercialisation.
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