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How fuel cell membranes degrade

How fuel cell membranes degrade

test setup
Test setup, © Fraunhofer ISE

Understanding how the presence of cations causes polymer electrolyte membranes to degrade is important to advancing PEM research. Fraunhofer ISE has been focused on analyzing various types of cations for their impact on perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes. This analysis is significant in understanding the catalytic effect individual cations have on forming radicals that attack PFSA polymers. How chemical stable these polymers are was investigated using Fenton’s reaction.

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Simplified Production Method for PEM Fuel Cells

Simplified Production Method for PEM Fuel Cells

MPL-GDLThe heart of PEM fuel cells is the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), which has so far been produced by using only polymer electrolyte membranes. The manufacture of these membranes, however, is highly complex and expensive, limiting MEA production to a few companies around the globe. An innovative method discovered by researchers from the Department of Microsystems Technology (IMTEK) at the University of Freiburg makes the membrane process technology obsolete (more…)

Biogas plants become control energy power plants

Biogas plants become control energy power plants

GP-Joule-h-tec

GP Joule installed 24 electrolyzer stacks (Source: GP Joule)

At the end of April 2015, GP Joule began testing its electricity fill-in concept. As part of the 200 kW H2 biogas project, the engineers at the head office of the company in Reussenköge, Germany, installed two electrolyzers, each with 5 kW stacks. In May, the plant was extended, with 16 additional stacks initially being installed. By the summer of 2015, the first four stacks were set to be replaced with a total of 24 new modules so that the nominal output then totals 200 kW. This enables (more…)

ENE-FARM installed 120,000 residential fuel cell units

ENE-FARM installed 120,000 residential fuel cell units

Nedo-web

Nedo, Japan, showed their first CHP fuel cell systems in Hannover 2008

Japan’s ENE-FARM program is arguably the most successful fuel cell commercialization program in the world. ENE-FARM has supported the deployment of well over 120,000 residential fuel cell units and is providing proof that long term public-private partnerships can push new technology into the marketplace. New models coming on the market in 2015 are smaller, more efficient, cheaper and more easily installed than previous models. (more…)

BMWi starts incentive program for market launch

BMWi starts incentive program for market launch

NAPE-nationaler-action-plan-webIn May 2015, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) presented the long-awaited funding instrument for the market launch of fuel cell heating devices. As announced by Minister of Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel, the market launch is to be supported via the so-called Energy Efficiency Incentive Program. The program is part of the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE), which was passed by the German federal government at the end of 2014. With other projects, it aims to contribute to a big improvement in the level of effectiveness in the construction sector. The package of measures has an annual funding volume (more…)