Fuel Cell SystemResarch and Development in Belfort

• National National Technologic Research Centre on Fuel Cells and Interfaces for Transportation Applications (Belfort - Montbéliard - Nancy)• National Fuel Cell Test Platform• Laboratory for research in Electrical Engineering and Systems

Paris - Arcueil

BelfortMontbéliard

Nancy

Lyon- Bron

National FC Test PlatformNational FC Test Platform

Technical and scientificmanagement

FC research works

PartnersPartners

LaboratoriesNancy

Interface between companies and laboratories

National Technologic Research Center

National Technologic Research Center (Fuel Cells and Interfaces for Transportation Applications)

(located in Belfort – Montbéliard – Nancy)

• Created by the French government : • For the promotion of the fuel cell platform

• For facilitation of scientific and technical exchanges between industries and public labs in the field of fuel cells and their applications for energy and transportation

• Association

• Board of directors

• Scientific committee

• Partners :

Reformer

Fuel

Humidificateur

DC/DC Converter

Condenser

Radiator

FC Stack

Hydrogen

Water

CompressorAir (Oxygen)

Pump

PEMFC Generator

Source : PSASource : PSA

Objectives of the CNRT

Overall modelling and experimental characterisation for a vehicle powered by a fuel cell

Global modelling and full power tests of fuel cell generator Interactions between fuel cell and power electronics Ageing effects, reliability due to the transportation cycling load Interest of electrical “power“ storage (in relation with the vehicle use cycle) Integration in the vehicle power train modelling and test Influence on reliability and maintainability

Optimisation of the entire system (efficiency, emission)

National FC Test Platform

National Research Centre on Fuel Cellsand Interfaces for Transportation Applications

Electrical Engineering and Systems LaboratoryUFC – UTBM – INRETS LRE T_31

Offices - LabsOffices - LabsFC Test AreaFC Test AreaGas StorageGas Storage

Main Characteristics

Electrical power up to 200 kW

Hydrogen, Methanol, Natural gas,.. supplying

Dynamic load to simulate transportation applications

Measuring devices and data acquisition

Transportation environment

Wide open to industrial and research laboratories

Fuel Cell P1

5-10 kW

Fuel Cell P2

70-80 kW

Fuel Cell P3

200 kW

Active load : motors, converters, supercapacitors, batteries…

Measurement, Supervision, Control

Maintenance workshop

Implantation

Equipment

• Ventilation Normal: 20 volumes/hour, H2 detection: 40 volumes/hour, Abnormal: shutter opening, Weak seam roof • Gas feedingHydrogen (max 870 kg), Nitrogen, Air (compressor), mixing station, gasoline• FC and active load cooling

• Safety and automatismsPermanent control of Hydrogen flow, Inerting, Explosimeters, Ultraviolet and Infrared sensors, Thermal sensors

• Active loads

• Data acquisition

Cou

plin

g w

ith b

uild

ing

Specific Equipment for transportation applications

DC/DC

FC

DC/DC

FC

DC network 540 V

DC generator

DC/AC

DC/AC

Induction motor

AC Grid 400 V

DC generator

DC/AC

DC/AC

Self controlledSynchronous

motor

DC/AC

Brushlessmotor

DC/DC

ultracapacitors

Test bench 30 kW

Test bench 30 kWPower

modulatedfor transportation

applications

Poweradapted

to the FC

Poweradaptedto the FC

Vibration table and air conditioning caisson

• Vibration table• MF – electrodynamics – from 5 to 2000 Hz• 35 kN• table 1220x1220• 3 axes

• Air conditioning caisson• -30°C < Temperature < 130°C• 1°C per minute in the useful area• controlled hygrometry • net capacity 1700x1700x800• acceptable heat emission: 10 kW (radiation and convection)

View of Room P1 (< 10 kW)

Sensors for safetyVentilation

500 W Test Bench 5 kWTest Bench

CoolingHeating

Gas distribution• hydrogen• air• nitrogen• others

500W PEMFC Test Bench (L2ES)

Humidification

Gas manifoldsFlow meters

ZSW PEMFC

Control - data acquisition

Active load

Laboratory for researchin

Electrical Engineering and Systems

• Electrical machines – thermal, electrical and magnetic modeling, optimal design

• Power management and control – inverter, batteries, ultra capacitors

• Fuel Cell Systems – modeling, ancillaries, APU

Energy and Transportation

Hybrid vehicle

In wheel motor

Integrated power electronics

Energy Management

Power electronicsHF Transformer

Vehicle DC

networkFuel CellSystem

SupercapacitorTank

BoostChopper

BuckChopper

APU

FC Generator Energy Optimal Design

FC system dynamic modeling

Validation Experiments

FC Generator Optimal Structure

Piloting

Generator design and integration in a system

Diagnosis and faults

localization

Reliability

Life time and relation with gas quality

Ageing

Basic research Applications

Transportation Applications Constraints

Environment Conditions

Hybridizing

Single cellThermal behavior

CoolingLEMTA – LET

LSGS – LEPSI - ..

Technical evolutions

• Membranes• Temperature• Bipolar plates• Humidification• Gas• …

FCTESTNET

Fuel Cell Test Network5th PCRD – 56 participants

Kick-off meeting - 3 and 4 April 2003

L2ES is leader for :

WP1 : Transportation (Automotive FC systems)• Inventory of test procedures related to measure material flow inputs and outputs• Inventory of test procedures and methods already in use • Inventory of safety aspects and associated test procedures

WP4 : Balance of Plant• Definition of essential parameters for balance-of-plant components in different system concepts/applications

Some Projects CNRT – L2ES

GENEPACTechnical Feasibility of a FC electrical generator Partners : PCA – CEA – CNRS GDR Membranes – CNRT – L2ESThe Belfort team is in charge of :

• experimental behavior tests of the FC generator• FC generator start tests

APUROUTEINEVA/CNRT – DELPHI – TOTAL - PSA – RENAULT TRUCKS - RENAULT– UTAC – INRETS – CEA - L2ES(UTBM)Experimental tests of a SOFC generator under conditioning atmosphere (temperature and vibrations)

under various temperature constraints

Project PREDIT-INTERREG III – URBILEC• This project deals with design, realization and behavioral comparison of two electrical scooters (FC scooter + ultracapacitors + in-wheel electrical motor, battery scooter + ultracapacitors + in-wheel electrical motor). • Partners : Peugeot Motocycles, Air Liquide, Technicréa Recherche, INRETS, L2ES, LEI-EPFL (CH), Ville de Lausanne (CH), Maxwell (CH), CREE-RDP (CH)• Sum total : 645 k€• This application project is a part of the EPO AUTO project run by the CEREVEH

Some Projects – L2ES

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention

Paris - Arcueil

BelfortMontbéliard

Nancy

Lyon- Bron

ContactContact ineva-cnrt@utbm.frineva-cnrt@utbm.fr