Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells
- Univ. of Pittsburgh
- LG Electronics Inc.
Maldistribution of fuel across the cells of a fuel cell stack is an issue that can contribute to poor cell performance and possible cell failure. It has been proposed that an array of microvalves could promote even distribution of fuel across a fuel cell stack. A piezoelectric microvalve has been developed for this purpose. This valve can be tuned to a nominal flow rate (and failure position) from which the actuator would either increase or decrease the flow rate and fuel. The valve can successfully regulate the flow of fuel from 0.7 to 1.1 slpm of hydrogen in the range of temperatures from 80° to 100°C and has been tested over pressure drops from 0.5 to 1 psi. A bank of these valves is currently being tested in a four-cell stack at the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory.
- Research Organization:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- None cited
- OSTI ID:
- 915354
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NETL-IR-2007-035; TRN: US200817%%473
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 2006; Conference: ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Chicago, IL, Nov. 5-10, 2006
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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