How Is a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Produced?
Hydrogen fuel cells are produced in laboratories that have been scaled up in size, but these processes do not utilize high-volume manufacturing methods. Components for hydrogen fuel cells are created by hand through a labor-intensive process.
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Four Subsystems
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Four subsystems are used in the process of manufacturing hydrogen fuel cells. These systems are the cell stack, balance of plant, power conditioning and systems control.
Cell Stack
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The cell stack area of production is considered the most important because it focuses on the fuel cell core. Electrochemical processes take place in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA). MEAs are thin materials, and they need to be processed through thin film manufacturing.
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Balance of Plant
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Balance of plant systems account for 50 percent of the total commercial cost for developing a fuel cell. Hydrogen fuel cells benefit from this already established manufacturing practice. This area of production focuses on supply and control of reactants as well as the removal of byproducts from the fuel cells.
Power Conditioning
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Power conditioning is the area of hydrogen fuel cell development in which direct current (DC) power is converted into high-voltage alternating current (AC) power in order to power a vehicle. This particular system is already in use within the transportation industry.
Systems Control
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Computer interfacing between the vehicle and the power plant achieves optimum performance of the vehicle's overall system. Integrated circuits and remote monitoring of major subsystems and components allow for lower cost assembly of control systems in the power plant and vehicle.
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