Peripheral Components of the Fuel Cell System – Concepts for Component Test Rigs for Product Validation

In the use of “green” hydrogen, fuel cell technology plays a key role in the realisation of carbon-free energy management and mobility. For regional involved parties such as component manufacturers, easy access to knowledge and test facilities is an important building block for market entry. Numerous regional companies can contribute their specific expertise from the traditional precision mechanics and automotive industry. These include ancillary components in the air (cathode) and hydrogen (anode) path such as the air compressor, the H2 recycling pump, the humidifier, the cooling system, the power electronics, valves and many more sensors and control devices. The periphery of the media pathways also plays an important role in terms of durability and reliability, as well as cost and weight of the overall system. Ultimately, all of this has a major impact on overall efficiency. Based on the requirements for the components “humidifier” and “circulation pump”, this paper presents the concept and design of modular test rigs for product evaluation. Furthermore, an outlook on future development and test possibilities is given.