R&D/Engineering

FUEL CELL - R & D

 

 

 

 

 

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Contact us: fuelcell@mes.ch
 
 
 
 
 
At the beginning of the 2002 MES-DEA (which is member of CEBI Networks ) decided to come into the fuel cell field. MES-DEA kept in contact with different FC technology provider worldwide for the best technology choice. In May 2002 MES-DEA finalized an agreement with NOVARS in order to realize its own PEMFC technology. Starting from NOVARS’s experience and CEBI group potential, MES-DEA was able to create its own competence and know how in PEM fuel cell technology realizing in a few time the first MES-DEA fuel cell system prototypes.
 
At the beginning of the 2010 MES which is one of the biggest company of the CEBI group, has incorporated the MES-DEA fuel cell department inside its structure.
 
To cover both the power ranfe and the relevant application needs MEShas realized two different kind of PEMFC Systems: one based on a 61 cm^2 cell active area, the other based on a smaller one (31 cm^2 cell active area ).
 
 
The main advantages of both systems is their simplicity, which means:
and their light weight due to:
by means of these features we have reached an high global efficiency, specific power and power density.
The reactant gases are pure hydrogen and air. The two gas streams inside the stack are in counter flow. The former is supplied in dead end mode at around 0.5 bar overpressure and the latter is blowed inside the cathode compartment by means of the suitable radial blower. Other bigger radial blower are required for cooling the system.
 
Power Output
Small Cells (31cm2 active area )
Standard Cells (61cm2 active area )
100 W
Unregulated Voltage 6.0V - 9.5V
10 single Fuel Cells
 
250 W
Unregulated Voltage 13.2V-20.9V
22 single Fuel Cells
  
500 W
Unregulated Voltage 13.2V-20.9V
22 single Fuel Cells
1.0 kW
 
Unregulated Voltage 24 V - 38 V
40 single Fuel Cells
1.5 kW
 
Unregulated Voltage 36 V - 57 V
60 single Fuel Cells
3.0 kW
 
Unregulated Voltage 72 V - 114 V
120 single Fuel Cells
  
The below figure shows the Polarization and the Power Output Curve of the PEMFC single cell that are manufactured and assembled by MES. The single cell has a current density of about 0.8A/cm2active area at 0.6V cell voltage. Thanks to its light weight and compactness the single cell has a specific power of 0.9W/g and a power density of 980W/lt.
 
 
 
All Fuel Cell Stack Systems are designed by MES-DEA as a complete solution with a microprocessor that controls and manages all the auxiliaries ( blowers, valves).
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 You can download the presentation page of Fuel Cell Technology
 
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European Projects 
 
 
 
MES fuel cell laboratory is involved as a partner in important European demostration projects inside the Seven framework programme (JTI-FCH)
  • Mobypost
  • FCpoweredRBS
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 You can download the presentation of these project
 
 
 
 
 

 

MobyPost in a nutshell

Carbon neutral vehicle with novel technology based on a solar hydrogen fuel cell system

 

MobyPost is a European project aimed at developing a sustainable mobility concept by delivering a solar-to-wheel solution.

The first core element of this environmentally friendly and novel project is the development of ten electric vehicles which will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells, and conceived and designed for post delivery use.

Besides, the development of two hydrogen production and refuelling stations is a second core component of MobyPost. These will be built in the French region Franche-Comté, where photovoltaic (PV) generators will be installed on the roofs of two buildings ow­ned by project partner La Poste and dedicated to postal services. The PV generators allow for the production of hydrogen through electrolysis.

Hydrogen is stored on site in low pressure tanks where it is availa­ble for refuelling the tanks of the electric vehicles, the latter being powered by an embedded fuel cell producing electricity that di­rectly feeds the electric motors.

The project develops and tests under real conditions two fleets of five vehicles for postal mail delivery. Consortium partner La Poste will run the field tests in close coordination with other project partners involved.

 

The advantages of this solar-to-wheel solution are manifold, as ener­gy will be produced:

o autonomously

o locally

o following environmentally friendly principles

o under proven safe conditions

o enabling the availability of energy on demand (since hydrogen produced but not immediately required will be stored)

 

The best is that there will be almost no greenhouse gas emission all along the energy production and consumption cycle.
 
 
 
 
 

        

 
 
www.mobypost-project.eu
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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FCpoweredRBS: Demonstration Project for Power Supply to Telecom Stations through FC technology

 

The FCH-JU EU project FCpoweredRBS, started in January 2011 and targets the demonstration of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen market readiness by testing on-field a significant number powered Radio Base Stations. While Telecom application are widely seen as an early market for these technologies a wide demonstration of their performances under real operating conditions is fundamental to assess their potential as well as to determine their real strength.

The project has created an integrated approach to the design of high energy efficient Radio Base Stations and will test different state of the art FC solutions from European and World Manufacturers. Alternative fueling solutions as hydrogen, methanol or natural gas will also be tested aiming to address the different range of application of each solution.

While the FCpoweredRBS solution could already improve the energy performance of RBS and reduce their carbon footprint, the proposed set-up also aims to demonstrate a significant advantage in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). In fact, for specific applications the higher efficiency and the integrated use of local renewable energy sources should also lead to cost savings which could make this application interesting for immediate use.
 
 
 
 
 

         

        
http://fcpoweredrbs.eu/
 
 
  
 
 
 
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Scientific Projects 
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Since the end of the 2007 the MES fuel cell laboratory is involved in a Swiss scientific project ( go.PEF-CH , BiPCaNP) in which it will directly collaborate with important research institutes in the development of its technology.
 
 
 
 
 
BiPCaNP  project
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Since the beginning of the 2009 the Fuel Cell Dep. is a partner of BiPCaNP project:  
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The objective of the project is to develop an original process for the manufacturing of a new graphite/polymer composite material, to be used for the production of bipolar plates in Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEM-FCs). The goal is to improve electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, thus increasing fuel cells� energy density and reducing overall costs. The innovative processing routes applied to micro and nano scale graphite fillers will be investigated through parallel experimental and multiscale modeling techniques.
 
 

 
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go.PEF-CH project
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Since the end of the 2007 the Fuel Cell Dep. is a partner of go.PEF-CH project: 
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The objective of this project is to investigate aging and degradation phenomena in the framework of the PEF-CH network, in close collaboration with the Swiss industry.

The studies are carried out by means of the most innovative diagnostic techniques:

  • segmented microstructured flow field approach for submillimeter
    resolved local current measurements in channel and land areas
  • transient investigations in along the channel segmented cells
  • neutron radiography combined with electrochemical transient techniques

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Scientific Collaborations

 

 

                     

 We collaborate with the Aerospace Department of the Torino Politecnico in order to study the behaviour of our fuel cell in high altitude condition and the use of it up to 14.000 mt.

Furthermore is under development a multisource UAV ( unmanned aerial vehicle ) which will use a 250W fuel cell as range extender.

  

 

 

 

 

We collaborate with the Environmental Department of the Bologna University ELMA MATER STUDIORUM in order to study the behaviour of our fuel cell used in innovative supply system for the monitor of hydrological hazardous area  

 

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Challenges

 

 

Our philosophy is to collaborate with our clients to win great challenges
 
thanks to our high specific power:
 
  • Blerriot project: first full propulsion FC aircraft with passenger
 
 
thanks to our high efficiency:
 
  • Politech Nantes prototype:  consumption record of 5136 Km/lt
  • Hydrocruiser urban concept:  consumption of 750Km/lt

 

 

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Bleriot project
first FC full propulsion manned aircraft
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In2007 the French company HELITE ( Air Bag for ULM and Motorcycles) decided to start Bleriot Project with the objective to celebrate the first overflight of the English Channel made by Bleriot on the 25th of July 1909.
In August 2009 the same enterprise was realized by means of a Fuel Cell full propulsion ULM fed by hydrogen ( 4 x 1.5kW ): the future energy carrier. For this futuristic project, HELITE has chosen the Swiss company MES as fuel cell supplier. It was the first flight made by a fuel cell full propulsion aircraft  with  man onboard.
 
The MES Fuel Cell system is air cooled ed its main features is the low number of auxiliary used, in this way the MES fuel cell is very simple, highly compact and light, reaching good power density, specific power and net electrical efficiency.
Additionally their modularity permits to achieve the requested power connected them in series/parallel thus obtaining a safe configuration and the necessary reliability in the aeronautics field.
 
 In November 2010 flight in occasion of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico
 
 
For further details:
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Politech Nantes Record:

5136 Km/l

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The 2010 edition of the Shell Eco-Marathon Europe has proved another record-breaking year, with the long-standing overall record set in 2005 finally being beating by an eye-popping 1,060 kilometers.
In the last 2011 edition the Polyjoule team has overcome itself reaching the new absolute record of 590km/kWh (roughly 5,136 km/l).
This distance covered is roughly the equivalent of driving from the head to toe of Europe, from the North Cape in Norway down to the toe of the Italian peninsula.

 

Hydrocruiser Record:

750 Km/l

 

 

http://www.eco-marathon.nl

 

The Hydrocruiser Team, already winner of the 2007, 2008 and 2010 editions of the Shell Eco-marathon Europe has obtained another victory in the 2011 ( urban concept category ), reaching the new personal record of 104 km/kWh (roughly 750 km/l).

 

  Articles

High efficiency LEVs - Power Electronics and Applications, 2007 European Conference on  - IEEE 

Sept 2007 

 

 

2nd EET European Ele-Drive Transportation Conference

30th May - 1st June 2007, Brussels

 

 

II° Congreso Nacional de Pilas de Combustible

18 - 20 Octubre 2006 Madrid 

 

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