Enhanced Fuel Cell Power with Oxygen Enriching Membranes

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目为电动汽车的功率限制提供了一个有价值的解决方案。由燃料电池（FC）驱动的电动车辆（EV）具有与其高效率、低污染水平和最少数量的运动部件相关的吸引力。FC的一个主要限制是其有限的功率。历史上，基于氧的FC通过增加系统压力和氧分压来增加功率。这种加压过程消耗大量的能量，并导致重量和设计问题。使用来自膜的富氧空气（OEA）来增加氧分压的主要限制是不存在紧凑的OEA系统。我们的高透氧性全氟聚合物膜显著提高了氧通量能力。他们将提供紧凑的OEA（30-35%氧气）膜系统，以增强FC功率。工程研究表明，我们的全氟膜系统的生产率是现有膜的30倍，可以提高50%的功率，而重量比铅酸电池轻得多。第一阶段的重点是通过开发所需的薄膜复合中空纤维结构来证明概念，以证明高通量，并对整个系统进行工程评估。第二阶段将重点开发扩大面积的原型膜组件和运行实际的FC测试。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project provides a valuable solution to power limitations of electric vehicles. Electric vehicles (EV) powered by fuel cells (FC) have appeal related to their high efficiency, low pollution levels and minimum number of moving parts. A major limitation of FC is their limited power. Historically oxygen based FC have increased power by increasing system pressure and oxygen partial pressure. This pressure process consumes significant energy and causes weight and design problems. The major limitation in using oxygen enriched air (OEA) from membranes for increasing oxygen partial pressure is that no compact OEA systems exists. Our high oxygen permeable perfluoropolymer membranes dramatically improve oxygen flux capability. They will supply compact OEA (30-35% oxygen) membrane systems for enhanced FC power. Engineering studies indicate our perfluoromembrane systems are 30 times more productive than existing membranes and can boost power 50% with significantly less weight than lead-acid batteries. Phase I focuses on proof of concept by developing the needed thin film composite hollow fiber structure to demonstrate high flux and doing engineering evaluations on the overall system. Phase II will focus on developing expanded area prototype membrane modules and running actual FC tests.