Laboratories

FCE Test Lab

Hydrogen systems

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Research Focus

The FCE Test Lab is operated in collaboration with the KIT Institute for Applied Materials – Electrochemical Technologies (IAM-ET) since 2004 and is located at KIT Campus South. The laboratory is dedicated to the testing of hydrogen applications and individual heat or power generation devices, fueled by gases and liquids. It serves the development and evaluation of technical, economic and environmental performance of hydrogen systems & components (PEM/ AEM fuel cells, electrolysis & compression).

Overview

Dedicated to short- and long-term benchmarking of hydrogen systems and components
Two testing cabinets with six test stands dedicated to PEM/AEM fuel cell & electrolysis, hydrogen compression and high-pressure components validation
Preparational area for EIFERs field & demonstration site activities (construction of control cabinets, monitoring & hydrogen assemblies)
Fully automatic safety chain connected to KIT alarm center (forced ventilation, gas & smoke sensors, automatic shutdown)
Unattended 24/7 experimentation with fully automated control & data acquisition

Competences

Broad scientific, engineering & technical skills
Safety assessments & mitigation (risk analysis, hazid, hazop, etc.)
Test planning and protocols as basis for design and setup of dedicated test benches
Control software programming with included data transfer and visualisation
Experimential monitoring and data analysis for test object improvement and operational recommendations

Low temperature Fuel Cells, Electrolysis Cells & Stacks

Test bench for PEM/AEM electrolysis single cell characterization (25 cm²)
Test bench for PEM/AEM fuel cell single cell characterization (25 cm²)
Test bench for LT & HT-PEM fuel cell stack testing (100 cm², up to 1,5 kWel)
Identification of degradation behavior by long term testing
Supply with various gas compositions
High frequency current & voltage analysis

Hydrogen compression platform

Test bench for hydrogen compression up to 500bar
Analysis of metal hydrides samples, micro and prototype compressors
Inertisation and activation of metal hydrides, PCT curves and long-term stability compression cycling tests
24/7 automatic test control & data acquisition, no duration restriction

Preparation of Field Experiments

Test stand for the design and construction of data acquisition systems for field experiments
Equipment for developing and testing prototype components of hydrogen supply systems