In this tech talk, Steven had the pleasure of discussing about the about the concept of fuel cell engine with Santiago Bresani, Sales and Business Development Leader at Nuvera Fuel Cells.
Learn about working of fuel cell engines
Steven Oji and Santiagi Bresani discusses about the concept of a fuel cell engine, which converts hydrogen into electrical power, drawing parallels to internal combustion engines. The composition of a fuel cell system encompasses components like the fuel cell stack, air compressor, and control units.
The term "engine" was chosen due to its analogy with internal combustion engines, as it simplifies understanding for new users, facilitating the transition to the new technology. Just as a conventional engine converts fuel into mechanical power, a fuel cell engine utilizes a PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell to convert hydrogen fuel into electrical power. The core components of the power generating system are the fuel cell stack, air compressor, coolant pump, engine control unit, hydrogen circulation system, and more, as shown in the diagram in the video. Additional components are application-specific and must be integrated to form a complete power solution. These include the fuel system, battery, power conversion, thermal management system, and master control unit.
Fuel cell engines operate at an higher than 50%, significantly higher than internal combustion engines that generally achieve 20-30% efficiency. Beyond efficiency, fuel cell engines boast zero emissions, making them a prime candidate for decarbonizing heavy-duty machinery like trucks and buses. When comparing fuel cell engines to traditional internal combustion engines, the absence of CO2 emissions and other pollutants in fuel cell technology are highlighted. Moreover, the collaborative nature of fuel cells and batteries is underscored, as they often work in tandem to address the power demands of various applications.
The discussion concluded on a futuristic note, discussing the trajectory of fuel cell engines. A trend toward larger and more efficient systems to cater to high-power demands in sectors such as commercial trucks and marine applications is predicted. Additionally, it is predicted, that as economies of scale will kick in, costs will decrease, ultimately opening doors for smaller power, consumer applications.
If you like the video, please also subscribe to our new Hyfindr Youtube Channel. We launched Hyfindr Tech Talks in January - a new format that is specifically designed for engineers who are interesed in the hydrogen economy!
Steven is a fuel cell system designer and he will deep-dive into the technology that makes the hydrogen economy work with real experts. We hope you will like the new format.