CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STUDY OF SPE FUEL CELL POWERPLANT FOR VEHICULAR APPLICATIONS

The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell technology was developed for and has been used in a number of space power applications. During the past 20 years, since the first use of the SPE fuel cells in the Gemini spacecraft program, significant technology advancements have been achieved which have resulted in more than an order of magnitude increase in energy density and almost two orders of magnitude in life. Prototype air breathing SPE fuel cells have also been developed for ground power applications, using both solid hydride and liquid hydrocarbon types of fuels. The application of SPE cells has been expanded into additional related fields such as water electrolysis, brine electrolysis, and hydrogen/halogen regenerative fuel cells. In 1981, the Los Alamos National Laboratory sponsored a study to show the feasibility of adapting the SPE type of fuel cell for use in a methanol fueled powerplant for vehicular applications. The study results indicated that an SPE fuel cell powerplant can probably be developed which will meet or exceed all of the guidelines established for the study by LANL.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Paper from the Workshop on Renewable Fuels and Advanced Power Sources for Transportation, Denver, Colorado, June 17, 1982.
• Corporate Authors:

  General Electric

  Marine Turbine & Gear Engineer, 1100 Western Ave
  Lynn, MA  United States  01910
• Authors:
  • Nuttall, L J
• Publication Date: 1982-6

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 93-107

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric power plants; Electrolytes; Fuel cells; Guidelines; Methanol; Polymers; Vehicle design
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00391673
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
• Report/Paper Numbers: SERI/CP-234-1707, CONF-820686
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 30 1985 12:00AM