Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Contamination removal in hydrogen fuel cell production

HFC technology will be an essential part of zero carbon emissions solutions.  It is very clean compared to internal combustion engines with the output by-product being H2O. HFCs are likely to be paired with battery technology but are forecast to be supplied in smaller volumes into passenger automotive sector and more significantly into heavy goods vehicles, buses, shipping, material handling and even aircrafts and drones.

While it has been slower to evolve and scale-up than battery technology, it is now being actively industrialised with a focus on improved automation of key process stages.  

Meech has been engaging with scale-up partners in industrialising the production processes of PEM fuel cells (proton exchange membrane) which is most commonly being adopted in the automotive sector.  It is essential to avoid embedded contamination and high static charge in the cell components and Meech will work with our partners to determine the optimise solution based on available space on machine, type and characteristics of contamination and process environment.  By avoiding these risks, production speeds can be optimised, yields can be maximised, and latent defects can be avoided.

Our Zero Faults Forward Approach

We have identified a number of processes within hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing that are prone to contamination on the line. By applying the right solutions at these points, you make sure there are no weak links to your production chain. We explore these below and demonstrate our solutions…

What is a Hydrogen fuel cell?

Fuel cells are devices that generate electricity through “electrochemical redox reactions” (not combustion – they don’t burn anything).

In short, they convert chemical energy of fuels (hydrogen or methane) directly into electrical energy (by combining them with oxygen).  As the chemical conversion does not need thermal and mechanical energy first fuel cells are (by comparison) extremely efficient.  Besides minimizing energy losses, fuel cells are also far less polluting than classic combustion engines with carbon emissions being much lower and non-toxic.  

If “green” hydrogen (hydrogen created using renewable energy sources) is fuelling the cell, they only emit water vapour and warm air! Delivering overall a very clean power solution.

Complementary technologies

Fuel cells and batteries are two viable solutions to create electric powertrains and thus address the clean energy challenge. Both technologies will also have their place as a hybrid solution (combined).  Depending on the application, either can be the best answer.. (we will also see them in combination)

Main differences

The single most essential difference between fuel cells and batteries is simple: a battery stores energy which it then uses, whereas a fuel cell generates energy by converting available fuel.  As long as you have access to the fuel, you have access to electricity – anytime, anywhere. Interestingly, a fuel cell can also have a battery component to store the energy it is generating.

Meech has been engaging with scale-up partners in industrialising the production processes of battery cells and PEM fuel cells (proton exchange membrane) which is most commonly being adopted in the automotive sector.  It is essential to avoid embedded contamination and high static charge in the cell components and Meech will work with our partners to determine the optimise solution based on available space on machine, type and characteristics of contamination and process environment.  By avoiding these risks, production speeds can be optimised, yields can be maximised, and latent defects can be avoided.

primary components of the hydrogen fuel cell

Primary applications: Catalyst coated membrane production

* All drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The position of the static control and web cleaning solutions most suitable for your process will depend on certain factors of your application.

Web Cleaning Solutions

Meech is a leading Web Cleaning manufacturer with a comprehensive range of four systems. Each system is based on a different cleaning principle, this uniquely allows us to provide our customers with a system best suited for their application. All Meech systems incorporate the latest shockless  AC static control bars as standard which is crucial for comprehensive contamination removal. Meech has more than 200 successful web cleaning installations in a range of industries including Packaging, Printing and Converting.

CyClean-non-contact-web-cleaner.-TB

cyclean™
non-contact web cleaner

Meech CyClean™ has been designed in response to demand for a compact, high performance, non-contact web cleaner.

Through the application of advanced computational fluid dynamics, CyClean removes and extracts contamination below 1 micron.

cyclean-R™
non-contact web cleaner

The CyClean-R provides a specialised solution for low-tension web cleaning.

The CyClean-R is designed to be positioned on the roller, where the web tension is at its highest, therefore bypassing the issues of low tension and still delivering excellent surface cleaning.

RoClean™
Contact Web Cleaner

RoClean is the latest contact web cleaner, delivering excellent surface cleaning results for the battery film manufacturing industry.

RoClean effectively cleans the web surface through the use of both static control and an efficient bristle roller brush. 

Air Handling Units. Meech

Air Handling Units

Meech web cleaners are supplied with Meech Air Handling Units (AHUs) to ensure air balance is maintained to perfectly control accuracy of air pressure and vacuum. These are compact, industrial specification units and can also be performance monitored via PLC control.

For the battery environment a new AHU option has been developed to enhance toxic contamination waste entrapment and safe filter removal by the operator.

Static Control Solutions

Meech is a market leader in manufacturing and supplying static control products since the 1960’s; offering a wide range of electrostatic products that provide anti-static and ESD protection and measurement, static generation, electrostatic control and elimination.

Hyperion™
924IPS ionising Bar

Powered by 24V DC the Hyperion 924IPS is the most compact pulsed DC bar available on the market.

The 924IPS features Meech’s Ion Current Monitoring (ICM) technology, this ensures performance is maintained with local and remote alerts when the bar needs cleaning.

Voltage Sensor. Meech

Hyperion™
Feedback Sensor

Our closed-loop feedback system takes advantage of the adjustable balance of pulsed DC ionising systems.

The system comprises a Hyperion SmartControl and up to 5 Hyperion ionising products for closed-loop feedback. Once connected to the SmartControl sensor, measures the voltage on the web downstream of the ionising bar.

This measurement can be fed back to the ionising product which automatically adjusts the balance of the output to achieve a completely neutral web. This is a continuous process that constantly measures and adjusts to achieve the very best static control at all times.

983v2 Static Locator

The Model 983v2 Static Locator provides a clear indication of electrostatic charges on materials.  It is intended for general industrial use and has a wide measuring range of +/-200kV, measured at 150mm distance.

The 983v2 can operate in “Continuous” or “Peak Hold” mode to record changes in the level of charge or the highest charge detected respectively. It is suitable for providing a good indication of the level of static charge for use by production, maintenance, inspection and quality engineers. The 983v2 can be used on any material where static charge may be an issue.

HYPERION™
SMARTCONTROL TOUCH

SmartControl Touch is the latest innovation from Meech designed to meet the needs of modern automated industries and the growth of Industry 4.0 to achieve maximum productivity and output quality.

SmartControl Touch allows the user to monitor, control and adjust the performance of multiple connected Hyperion ionising bars and sensors via the integrated touch-screen or remotely.

Could we help improve your hydrogen fuel cell manufacturing process?