Operation of the 25 kW NASA Lewis Research Center solar regenerative fuel cell testbed facility
- Jet Propulsion Lab., Pasadena, CA (United States)
- NASA Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, OH (United States)
- Naval Air Warfare Center, China Lake, CA (United States)
Assembly of the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC) Solar Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) Testbed Facility has been completed and system testing has proceeded. This facility includes the integration of two 25 kW photovoltaic solar cell arrays, a 25 kW proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis unit, four 5 kW PEM fuel cells, high pressure hydrogen and oxygen storage vessels, high purity water storage containers, and computer monitoring, control and data acquisition. The fuel cell and electrolyzer subsystems` installation was carried out by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The photovoltaic arrays and electrical interconnect to the electrolyzer were provided by the US Navy/China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center. JPL is responsible for conducting the testing and operations at the LeRC facility. There are multiple objectives for this program. The near term objectives are: (1) design, assemble, and test the solar RFC power plant system to serve as a pre-prototype operational testbed facility; (2) evaluate performance criteria of the total system, subsystems, and components against various operational duty cycles; and (3) develop automation and controls commensurate with advanced system operating requirements. The long term objectives are: (1) develop a highly reliable, long life, highly efficient solar RFC power system for future manned space missions; and (2) demonstrate the dual use aspects of RFCs applicable to commercial and military applications. The system description and initiation of system testing constitute Phase 1 of multiple activities planned to take place in the next few years. System modeling is being performed in parallel with the experimental testing and will be used to determine the most efficient system design, from the standpoint of weight, volume and cost of electrical power.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 349032
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970701-; TRN: IM9924%%32
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 32. intersociety energy conversion engineering conference, Honolulu, HI (United States), 27 Jul - 2 Aug 1997; Other Information: PBD: [1997]; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the thirty-second intersociety energy conversion engineering conference. Volume 3: Energy systems, renewable energy resources, environmental impact and policy impacts on energy; PB: 683 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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