Nebula Public Library

The knowledge bank of ESA’s R&D programmes

Development of a Closed Loop Regenerative HT PEM Fuel Cell System

Programme
TDE
Programme Reference
T303-001EP
Prime Contractor
Advent Technologies SA
Start Date
End Date
Status
Closed
Country
Greece
Development of a Closed Loop Regenerative HT PEM Fuel Cell System
Objectives

• Optimisation of materials from previous activities (GFT 2065, performance & lifetime)

• Design both an electrolyser and a fuel cell stack each having 1kW electrical power

• Manufacture and test a regenerative fuel cell system (RFCS)

Description

During this activity, a Regenerative Fuel Cell System (RFCS) was designed and constructed, comprising a high temperature Proton Exchange Membrane (HT-PEM) fuel cell stack and a High-Pressure PEM (HP-PEM) water electrolyser stack. The RFCS was tested against a three Lunar day-night cycles profile.

The activity is a continuation of the previous GTF 2065 activity, where initially electrode material were characterised and selected. The work was based on the 'lessons learnt' from GTF 2065, where the stack design and the operational parameters were optimised. The best performing material in the breadboard stack was designed, manufactured and tested for endurance. An elegant FC and ELY breadboard stack was then bult for integration in other ESA demonstration programmes. 

Application Domain
Generic Technologies
Technology Domain
3 - Space Systems Electrical Power
Competence Domain
4-Electric Architecture, Power and Energy, EMC
Keywords
Fuel cell
Closed loop
Performance
Regenerative
HT-PEM
Initial TRL
TRL 3
Target TRL
TRL 4
Achieved TRL
TRL 4
Public Document
Executive Summary
Final Presentation