In this tech talk, Steven had the pleasure of discussing Fuel Cell Backup Power System with Manfred Limbrunner, Deputy Managing Director, Investor Relations & Communications at Proton Motor.
Learn about Fuel Cell Backup Power System
Backup power systems, also known as Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS) or emergency power systems, can be categorized based on whether they provide power without any gap or with a gap during grid outages. The key challenge in fuel cell systems is regulating voltage since fuel cells produce unregulated voltage. To address this, a battery is coupled with the system to smooth out voltage fluctuations and provide initial power for startup.
Power electronics, media, and control are the three essential components of fuel cell backup power system. The power electronics handle voltage conversion and regulation, while media involves supplying hydrogen and air to the fuel cell. Control systems ensure the smooth operation and coordination of all components. The fuel cell systems can be air-cooled or liquid cooled. While air-cooled systems are suitable for lower power applications, liquid-cooled systems are preferred for higher power levels.
Explaining further, Florian differentiated between active and passive cooling methods. Active cooling is divided into direct and indirect types. In direct cooling, the hydrogen is cooled directly via a diffusion-bonded heat exchanger. With indirect cooling, an additional cooling circuit is added with a large storage tank and a liquid coolant as an intermediate. Lastly, passive cooling employs an aluminum block heat exchanger.
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