Metal hydride fuel cell

Metal hydride fuel cells have demonstrated the following characteristics:{{Cite journal|last1=Ovshinsky|first1=Stanford|last2=Fok|first2=Kevin|last3=Venkatesan|first3=Srinivasan|last4=Corrigan|first4=Dennis|date=May 2–4, 2005|title=Metal Hydride Fuel Cells For UPS And Emergency Power Applications|url=http://www.battcon.com/FileUsed?id=1414|journal=BATTCON 2005 International Battery Conference and Trade Show}}{{cite book|last1=Schwartz|first1=Brian|title=The Science and Technology of an American Genius: Stanford R Ovshinsky|last2=Fritzsche|first2=Hellmut|date=28 February 2009|publisher=World Scientific Pub Co Inc|isbn=978-9812818393}}{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of electrochemical power sources|date=2009|publisher=Academic Press|others=Garche, Jürgen., Dyer, Chris K.|isbn=9780444527455|location=Amsterdam|oclc=656362152}}

• The ability to be recharged with electrical energy (similar to NiMH batteries)
• Operating at low temperatures (down to −20 °C)
• Fast "cold start" properties
• Ability to operate for limited periods of time with no external hydrogen fuel source, enabling "hot swapping" of fuel canisters

Electrode active areas of metal hydride fuel cells have been scaled up from 60 cm² to 250 cm², enabling systems to be scaled up to 500 Watts.{{cite book|last1=Fok|first1=Kevin|title=INTELEC 06 - Twenty-Eighth International Telecommunications Energy Conference |chapter=Metal Hydride Fuel Cells, A New and Practical Approach for Backup and Emergency Power Applications |date=4 December 2006|pages=1–6|doi=10.1109/INTLEC.2006.251656|isbn=1-4244-0430-4|s2cid=43062441}} The scaling up of electrode active areas also provided capabilities to develop higher power fuel cell stacks, each with 1500 Watts of power. Metal hydride fuel cells have achieved a current density of 250 mA/cm².{{cite journal|last1=Fok|first1=Kevin|date=May 2007|title=Recent Advances in Metal Hydride Fuel Cell Technology for UPS/Emergency Power Applications|url=http://www.battcon.com/FileUsed?id=1369|journal=Battcon Stationary Battery Conference|access-date=22 March 2020}} To test durability, fuel cell stacks were successfully operated for more than 7000 hours.

File:Operating 1.0 kW Metal Hydride Fuel Cell System.jpg

During the earlier phases of product development, there was a focus on single fuel cells and fuel cell stacks composed of multiple cells. The target applications included critical backup power for military and commercial applications.{{Cite book|title=Materials for fuel cells|date=2008|publisher=CRC Press|others=Gasik, Michael, 1962-, Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining.|isbn=978-1-84569-483-8|location=Boca Raton|oclc=424570885}} The next phase was to design and build complete fuel cell systems that could be taken outside of the laboratory. Initial 50 Watt laboratory-based demonstration systems were integrated into 50 Watt portable systems with more robust packaging and interfacing. Additional developments in both the fuel cell stack and system integration enabled a 1.0 kW system, complete with an inverter and onboard hydrogen storage using metal hydride storage canisters, to be operated and demonstrated in public.{{cite book|last1=Godula-Jopek|first1=Agata|title=Hydrogen Storage Technologies: New Materials, Transport and Infrastructure|last2=Jehle|first2=Walter|last3=Wellnitz|first3=Jorg|date=November 2012|publisher=Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA|isbn=9783527649921|doi=10.1002/9783527649921}} Further developments in metal hydride fuel cell systems were pursued for the field power needs of soldiers, resulting in a prototype system meeting deployment requirements.{{Cite journal|last=Lowe|first=T. D.|date=2008|title=Mobile Fuel Cell Configurations for the U.S. Military|url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/52000606/mobile-fuel-cell-configurations-for-us-military-ohio-the-fuel-|journal=Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium 2008}} In tandem with product development, there was also a focus on developing capabilities for manufacturing and testing.{{Cite web|last=Energy Technologies, Inc.|date=December 17, 2009|title=Energy Technologies Awarded Third Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Grant for Advanced Research, Development & Commercialization|url=https://www.energytechnologiesinc.com/pressRelease/news/Press_Release_3rd_TFFC_Grant.php|access-date=2020-06-14|website=Energy Technologies, Inc.}} Metal hydride fuel cell systems have been integrated into microgrid systems at military bases for testing and evaluation.{{Cite journal|last=Madden|first=P. D.|date=March 23, 2016|title=Modular, Scalable, Micro Grid Incorporating Traditional and Renewable Energy Systems|url=https://pt.slideshare.net/PDM|journal=Microgrid Global Summit 2016}} Despite challenges,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2017/5/26/fuel-cells-fail-to-make-inroads-with-the-military|title=Fuel Cells Fail to Make Inroads With the Military|website=www.nationaldefensemagazine.org|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}} the military maintains an active interest in fuel cells for a broad range of applications, including unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicle, light-duty trucks, buses, and wearable technology systems.{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/4-ways-fuel-cells-power-us-military|title=4 Ways Fuel Cells Power Up the U.S. Military|website=Energy.gov|language=en|access-date=2020-03-24}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.automobilemag.com/news/chevrolet-silverado-zh2-is-a-fuel-cell-powered-heavy-duty-military-truck/|title=Chevrolet Silverado ZH2 is a Fuel Cell-Powered Heavy-Duty Military Truck|date=2018-11-07|website=Automobile|language=en|access-date=2020-03-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/land/2017/04/03/hydrogen-fuel-cell-technology-could-bring-stealth-to-army-vehicles/|title=Hydrogen fuel cell technology could bring stealth to Army vehicles|last=Judson|first=Jen|date=2017-08-08|website=Defense News|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-25}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1442852/air-force-demonstrating-hydrogen-as-alternate-fuel-source/|title=Air Force demonstrating hydrogen as alternate fuel source|website=U.S. Air Force|date=15 February 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-25}} Development of metal hydride fuel cell systems is continuing for military applications, with onboard hydrogen generation and fuel cells up to 5.0 kW.{{Cite web|title=Energy Technologies Inc. - Onsite Hydrogen|url=https://www.onsitehydrogen.com/index.php|access-date=2020-06-03|website=www.onsitehydrogen.com}}{{cite web|title=Ultimate Fuel Cells|url=https://www.ultimatefuelcells.com/|website=Ultimate Fuel Cells|publisher=Energy Technologies Inc.|access-date=22 March 2020}}

• Glossary of fuel cell terms
• Hydrogen technologies

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.fchea.org/ Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association]
• [https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fuel-cells United States Department of Energy: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technologies Office]
• [https://www.fuelcellseminar.com/ Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition]

{{Fuel cells}}

Category:Fuel cells