DESC:
FIELD
The present disclosure relates to a fuel cell test bed.
BACKGROUND
A fuel cell is an energy conversion device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy through an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and produces water and heat as byproducts. Each fuel cell comprises an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte.
Fuel cells are primarily used for transportation applications and stationary applications such as power backup for mobile towers and combined heat power (CHP) due to their low-to-high temperature operation, fast startup time, low sensitivity to orientation and favorable power-to-weight ratio.
A typical single fuel cell operates at a voltage from 0.6 V to 0.7 V at full rated load. To deliver the desired amount of energy (in kilo Watts), the individual fuel cell can be combined in series/ parallel configuration to produce higher voltage and power. Such combined fuel cells constitute a fuel cell stack. The cell active area can also be increased to allow higher current from each cell. In the stack, reactant gases must be distributed uniformly over all the cells to maximize the power output.
The power output and durability are critical parameters to determine the performance of the fuel cell. The power output and durability of the fuel cell varies with the change in different parameters such as pressure of hydrogen, air and water, flow-rate of hydrogen, air and water, humidity of air and the like. Hydrogen and water are supplied to the fuel cell with the help of pumps and air is supplied to the fuel cell with the help of a blower or a compressor or a suction pump.
Conventionally, the power output (maximum power output) and durability of the fuel cell is determined by regulating a single parameter at a time (for example – the pressure of hydrogen). Due to this, the amount of power required by each ancillary equipment, such as pump, blower and compressor to supply hydrogen, air and water at varying pressure, flow-rate, humidity of air, to test the performance of the fuel cell, i.e., to determine the maximum power output and durability of the fuel cell, is increased.
There is, therefore, felt a need for an alternative that reduces the amount of power required by ancillary equipment to test the power output and durability of the fuel cell.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows.
It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an alternative to test the power output and durability of a fuel cell.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an alternative that is capable of regulating multiple parameters at a time.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an alternative that reduces the amount of power required by ancillary equipment to test the power output and durability of the fuel cell.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY
The present disclosure provides a fuel cell test bed for controlling and monitoring the power output and durability of fuel cell stacks. The system comprises arrangement for removably connecting a plurality of fuel cell stacks to the fuel cell test bed; connectors for connecting to the anode and cathodes of the fuel cell stacks; a first supply unit for supplying hydrogen to the anodes; a second supply unit for supplying air to the cathodes; a third supply unit for supplying air and/or water to each of the fuel cell stacks for cooling the fuel cell stacks; and a control unit for controlling and monitoring the supply units and the power output of each of the fuel cell stacks.
The power required for operating all or any of the supply units is obtained from the fuel cell stacks themselves.
The first supply unit, the second supply unit, the third supply unit comprise sensors. The sensors being adapted to sense at least one parameter, and send the sensed signals to the control unit. The parameter can be selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow-rate, temperature of water, and temperature and humidity of air and/or hydrogen.
The control unit is adapted to control the power generated from the fuel cell stacks by receiving said sensed signals from the sensors and by regulating at least one parameter.
The first supply unit can be a screw pump. The first supply unit can be configured to supply hydrogen at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 350 KPa.
The second supply unit can be at least one selected from the group consisting of a compressor, a blower and a suction pump. The second supply unit can be configured to supply air at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 250 KPa.
The third supply unit can be a centrifugal pump.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A fuel cell test bed will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 depicts a flow-diagram for distributing the power output obtained from a plurality of fuel cell stacks to a first supply unit, a second supply unit and a third supply unit in accordance with the present disclosure.
Table illustrates a list of the following reference numerals:
Components Reference numeral
PLURALITY OF FUEL CELL STACKS 1
FIRST SUPPLY UNIT 2
SECOND SUPPLY UNIT 3
THIRD SUPPLY UNIT 4
POWER 5
CONTROL UNIT 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As described herein above, the power output (maximum power output) and durability of the fuel cell is conventionally determined by regulating a single parameter at a time (for example – the pressure of hydrogen), thereby increasing the power required by ancillary equipment such as pump, blower and compressor to supply hydrogen, air and water at varying pressure, flow-rate, humidity of air, to test the performance of the fuel cell.
The present disclosure, therefore, envisages a fuel cell test bed for controlling and monitoring the power output and durability of fuel cell stacks, so as to obviate the above mentioned drawbacks.
The fuel cell test bed is described with reference to Figure 1.
The fuel cell test bed comprises arrangement for removably connecting a plurality of fuel cell stacks (1) to the fuel cell test bed; connectors for connecting to the anode and cathodes of the fuel cell stacks (1); a first supply unit (2); a second supply unit (3); a third supply unit (4); and a control unit (6).
The first supply unit (2) supplies hydrogen to the anodes. The first supply unit (2) is configured to supply hydrogen at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 350 KPa. In accordance with the present disclosure, the first supply unit (1) is a screw pump.
The second supply unit (3) supplies air to the cathodes. The second supply unit (3) is configured to supply air at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 250 KPa. In accordance with the present disclosure, the second supply unit (3) is at least one selected from the group consisting of a compressor, a blower and a suction pump.
The third supply unit (4) supplies air and/or water to each of the fuel cell stacks (1) for cooling the fuel cell stacks (1). In accordance with the present disclosure, the third supply unit (1) is a centrifugal pump.
The first supply unit (2), the second supply unit (3), the third supply unit (4) comprise sensors (not shown in the figure 1). The sensors being adapted to sense at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow-rate, temperature of water, and temperature and humidity of air and hydrogen, and send the sensed signals to the control unit (6).
The control unit (6) controls and monitors the first supply unit (2), the second supply unit (3), the third supply unit (4) and the power output (5) of each of the fuel cell stacks (1).
The control unit (6) receives the sensed signals from the sensors, i.e., the sensors are coupled to the control unit (6). The sensors are configured to sense the change in the multiple parameters such as flow-rate of hydrogen, air and water, pressure of hydrogen, air and water, concentration of hydrogen and humidity of air and hydrogen and generate sensed signals. The control unit (6) is configured to receive the sensed signals. If the power output (5) of the fuel cell stacks (1) is less than the desired output, then the control unit (6) generates corrective signals. The corrective signals are fed to the sensors to regulate at least one parameter so as to get the desired power output (5) and maintain the durability of the fuel cell stacks (1).
The monitoring and control of fuel cell stacks (1) to generate the desired power output (5) requires ancillary equipment such as pumps, blowers and compressors, which as a whole form the Balance of Plant (BOP). The (parasitic) electrical power required to operate the ancillary equipment can account for up to 30% of the total power produced by the fuel cell stack (1). In accordance with the present disclosure, the power output (5) obtained from the fuel cell stacks (1) is utilized for the working of all or any of the supply units. Due to this, the net power consumption of the ancillary equipment is comparatively reduced.
The fuel cell test bed continuously monitors the concentration of hydrogen for safe working of the fuel cell stacks and ancillary equipment. The fuel cell test bed of the present disclosure controls the multiple parameters automatically so as to generate the desired power output and maintain the durability of the fuel cell stacks (1).
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a fuel cell test bed that is capable of:
• generating the desired power output and maintaining the required durability by regulating multiple parameters automatically;
• reducing the power consumption of ancillary equipment by providing the power obtained from the fuel cell stacks to the ancillary equipment; and
• testing of numerous configuration / types of ancillary equipment for increasing of the power available to user and overall lower system cost.
The disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully revealed the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A fuel cell test bed for controlling and monitoring the power output and durability of fuel cell stacks, said fuel cell test bed comprising:
a. arrangement means for removably connecting a plurality of fuel cell stacks to said fuel cell test bed;
b. connectors for connecting to the anode and cathodes of said fuel cell stacks;
c. a first supply unit for supplying hydrogen to the anodes;
d. a second supply unit for supplying air to the cathodes;
e. a third supply unit for supplying air and/or water to each of said fuel cell stacks for cooling said fuel cell stacks; and
f. a control unit for controlling and monitoring the supply units and the power output of each of said fuel cell stacks;
wherein, the power required for operating all or any of said supply units is obtained from said fuel cell stacks themselves.
2. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first supply unit, said second supply unit, said third supply unit comprise sensors, said sensors being adapted to sense at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of pressure, flow-rate, temperature of water, and temperature and humidity of air and/or hydrogen, and send said sensed signals to said control unit.
3. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said control unit is adapted to control the power generated from said fuel cell stacks by receiving said sensed signals from said sensors and by regulating at least one said parameter.
4. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first supply unit is a screw pump.
5. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first supply unit is configured to supply hydrogen at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 350 KPa.
6. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second supply unit is at least one selected from the group consisting of a compressor, a blower and a suction pump.
7. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second supply unit is configured to supply air at a pressure in the range of 125 KPa to 250 KPa.
8. The fuel cell test bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third supply unit is a centrifugal pump.