Putting Fuel Cells to the Test I f research has its way, an electrochemical device While the primary fuel source for a fuel cell is hydro- capable of converting energy into electricity and heat gen, there are several different types of fuel cells, each will become the impetus behind the next generation having different energy conversion efficiencies. Alkaline of automobiles, superseding the internal combustible Fuel Cells (AFCs), which use a solution of potassium engine found under the hoods of vehicles that rule the hydroxide in water as their electrolyte, were one of the first classes of fuel cells developed and are still depend- road today. ed upon during Space Shuttle missions. Phosphoric Acid The thought of fuel cell technology being able to Fuel Cells (PAFCs), considered the most commercially accomplish such a feat may be dismissed as too futuris- developed fuel cells, are used in hospitals, hotels, and tic by some, but the truth is that fuel cells have been in offices, and as the means of propulsion for large vehicles play as a source of propulsion since the 1960s, when such as buses. Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells NASA first used them to generate power onboard the (PEMFCs) are similar to PAFCs in that they are acid- Gemini and Apollo spacecraft for extended space based (although the acid is in the form of a proton missions. Even more unknown is the fact that fuel cells exchange membrane), but they operate at lower temper- were and continue to be a source of drinking water for atures (about 170 ºF, compared to 370 ºF) and have a astronauts in orbit, since they produce pure water as higher power density. a by-product. Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs) operate at NASAis recognized for providing fuel cell technol- high temperatures (1,300 ºF) to achieve sufficient con- ogy with the initial research and development it required ductivity. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs), like MCFCs, for safe, efficient use within other applications. Fuel cells operate at high temperatures (2,000 ºF), but are more have garnered a great deal of attention as clean energy ideal for using waste heat to generate steam for space converters, free of harmful emissions, since being adopt- heating, industrial processing, or in a steam turbine to ed by the Space Program. Along with automobile manu- create more electricity. Lastly, Direct Methanol Fuel facturers, universities, national laboratories, and private Cells (DMFCs) use methanol directly as a reducing companies of all sizes have tapped into this technology. agent to produce electrical energy, eliminating the need t n e m e g a n a M s e c r u o s e R d n a t n e m n o r i v Various modules representing Lynntech, Inc.’s product line of fuel cell test equipment. n E 52 S P I N O F F 2 0 0 3 for a fuel processor, thus increasing the possibilities for testing in the industry. FCPower enables plug-and-play E a lighter, less expensive fuel cell engine. recognition of hardware, multiple levels of user control, n v Developers of the various fuel cell technologies complete automation of configuration and testing, cus- i r require advanced, fully automated, computer-controlled tomizable display, and data acquisition and exporting. o test equipment to determine the performance of fuel cell Even more, the software incorporates safety features that n m components, such as electrocatalysts, proton exchange allow for combustible gas monitoring and automatic e membranes, and bipolar plates, as well as fuel cell shutdown of instruments and fuel supply lines. n stacks and fuel cell power systems. Since 2001, To match the requirements of individual fuel cell t a Lynntech Industries, Ltd., an affiliate of College Station, developers, Lynntech Industries adopted a modular n Texas-based Lynntech, Inc., has been manufacturing approach on designing the test equipment, enabling d and selling a complete range of fuel cell test systems custom solutions with standard equipment. This entitles R worldwide to satisfy customers’demands in this rapidly e customers to select specific modules they may need for s growing market. any given fuel cell application. Accordingly, Lynntech o The fuel cell test equipment was invented by u Industries provides a selection of “all-in-one” test sys- r Lynntech, Inc., in the early-to-mid 1990s, with funding c tems and function-specific modules. The components of e for design, fabrication, and testing stemming from a the company’s fuel cell test system include an electronic s Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) loadbank; a reactant gas humidifier; gas mixing, M contract with NASA’s Glenn Research Center. Glenn handling, and metering systems; instrumentation a awarded the company the SBIR with the intent of utiliz- n input/output; methanol and hydrogen test kits; tail gas a ing the resulting technology to strengthen NASA’s handling; thermal management; and a cell voltage mon- g Reusable Launch Vehicle and Space Power programs. e itoring buffer board. m First year commercial sales of the fuel cell test equip- It remains uncertain when exactly the average con- e ment were in excess of $750,000, verifying NASA’s n sumer will be able to fully appreciate the impact that expense as a sound investment. The test system arising t fuel cells are making to preserve the environment, from the work with Glenn has been patented by but Lynntech, Inc., and Lynntech Industries are in posi- Lynntech, Inc., and continues to be upgraded to meet tion to bring this moment of realization one step closer current standards. to reality. Lynntech Industries’testing system comes equipped with software called FCPower,™ declared by the FCPower™is a trademark of Lynntech Industries, Ltd. company as the most powerful and flexible program for Flightweight™is a trademark of Lynntech, Inc. A variety of fuel cell components, like the Lynntech Flightweight™Fuel Cell Stack shown here, require top-of-the-line test equipment to determine their performance. S P I N O F F 2 0 0 3 53