PFI-TT: Development and Commercialization of a Novel Tubular Proton Exchange Fuel Cell

这一创新技术转化伙伴关系(PFI-TT)项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力在于管式质子交换燃料电池的开发和商业化，这是一种燃料电池技术的新设计。燃料电池使用氢气，这是一种零碳和可再生燃料，为发电和制造部门提供了消除碳污染的机会。燃料电池可能会缓解污染和气候变化的挑战。拟议的管状设计具有许多组件，这些组件可以将燃料电池重量减少50%，并减少性能损失，同时提供模块化设计。由于模块化设计，潜在的商业应用范围从便携式电源、微型移动性、工业设备、交通运输和分布式备用电源。提出的新型管式燃料电池的开发可能有助于对替代燃料电池设计的科学和技术理解，并有助于拓宽氢基技术和向氢经济过渡。该项目还可能对未来领导者和企业家的培训产生影响，并扩大对清洁能源领域的参与。拟议的项目重点是管式质子交换燃料电池(TPEFCs)的原型制作和商业化。目前最先进的质子交换燃料电池(PEFC)采用平面设计，使用昂贵的凝聚型催化层，反应物质量传输和副产物水去除较差。质子交换膜燃料电池体积大、结构复杂，含有昂贵的高压降的流场/双极板。由于它们的成本、退化和效率不足，它们面临着挑战。该项目的研究目标是设计并演示一种管式燃料电池，该电池具有改进的反应物传质和产品水去除功能。TPEFC可以消除PEFC的几个组分(例如，一个流动场板和一个气体扩散层)，显著降低重量和成本，同时还改善了反应物、电流和温度分布。TPEFC还可以提高比功率和能量密度。这项研究试图利用先进的制造方法，如添加剂制造，开发和展示管状燃料电池原型，包括电极、膜、内部供气/集流板和外部流动场板。同时，该项目将通过市场研究、客户发现、学生创业培训和为潜在的初创公司做准备来将产品商业化。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project lies in the development and commercialization of a Tubular Proton Exchange Fuel Cell – a novel design of a fuel cell technology. Fuel cells operate on hydrogen, a zero-carbon and renewable fuel that offers an opportunity to remove carbon pollution in the power generation and manufacturing sectors. Fuel cells may mitigate pollution and climate change challenges. The proposed tubular design features a number of components that nay reduce the fuel cell weight by 50% and reduce performance losses, while offering a modular design. Due to modular design, the potential commercial applications range from portable power, micro-mobility, industrial equipment, transportation, and distributed backup power. The development of the proposed novel tubular fuel cell may contribute to the scientific and technological understanding of alternative fuel cell designs and aid in the broadening of hydrogen-based technologies and the transition to the hydrogen economy. This project may also have an impact on the training of future leaders and entrepreneurs and broaden participation in the field of clean energy. The proposed project focuses on prototyping and commercializing tubular proton exchange fuel cells (TPEFCs). State-of-the-art proton exchange fuel cells (PEFCs) currently built in a planar design, use expensive agglomerate-type catalyst layers with poor reactant mass transport and by-product water removal. PEFCs are bulky, complex, and contain expensive flow field/bipolar plates with high pressure drops. They face challenges due to their cost, degradation and insufficient efficiency. The research objective of this project is to prototype and demonstrate a tubular fuel cell design with improved reactant mass transport and product water removal. The TPEFCs may eliminate several components of PEFCs (e.g., one flow field plate and a gas diffusion layer), significantly reducing the weigh and cost while also improving the reactant, current, and temperature distribution. TPEFCs may also increase specific power and energy density. This research seeks to develop and demonstrate a tubular fuel cell prototype, including the electrodes, membrane, inner gas supply/current collector, and outer flow field plate, using advanced fabrication approaches such as additive manufacturing. The project will, in parallel, focus on commercialization of the product through market research, customer discovery, entrepreneurial training of the students, and preparation for a potential start-up company.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.