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Title: Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]; ; ;  [2]
  1. Univ. of Pittsburgh
  2. LG Electronics Inc.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE - Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
OSTI Identifier:
915354
Report Number(s):
DOE/NETL-IR-2007-035
TRN: US200817%%473
DOE Contract Number:  
None cited
Resource Type:
Conference
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
Subject:
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; ACTUATORS; DISTRIBUTION; FLOW RATE; FUEL CELLS; HYDROGEN; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMANCE; PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS; VALVES; fuel cell performance; microvalves; piezoelectric microvalves

Citation Formats

Bucci, B A, Vipperman, J S, Clark, W, Hensel, J P, Thornton, J D, and Kim, S. Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. United States: N. p., 2006. Web. doi:10.1115/IMECE2006-14064.
Bucci, B A, Vipperman, J S, Clark, W, Hensel, J P, Thornton, J D, & Kim, S. Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2006-14064
Bucci, B A, Vipperman, J S, Clark, W, Hensel, J P, Thornton, J D, and Kim, S. 2006. "Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2006-14064.
@article{osti_915354,
title = {Piezoelectric Microvalve for Flow Control in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells},
author = {Bucci, B A and Vipperman, J S and Clark, W and Hensel, J P and Thornton, J D and Kim, S},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1115/IMECE2006-14064},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/915354}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = 2006,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Wed Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}

Conference:
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