Fuelcon's C50-HT Evaluator Now Has Universal SOFC Cell Housing

Fuelcon -- the supplier of test and diagnostic systems for fuel cells, batteries and super capacitors --announced that it has enhanced its Evaluator C50-HT by developing a new, seal-less cell housing to achieve highly reproducible testing of SOFC MEAs.  The company reports that the "TrueXessory" housing is made of precise, surface-ground ceramic components and therefore not only reduces the retrofitting time and effort, but also avoids contamination. TrueXessory is available in standard sizes of 5x5cm2 or 10x10cm2 active cell area. These cell housing fixtures are also available in high temperature-resistant steel. Finally, to complete the TrueXessory product line, cell housing fixtures are also available for short stacks.

The Evaluator C50-HT was designed to meet the specific testing requirements of high temperature components such as ceramic membranes, electrodes, sealings, catalysts as well as complete SOFC MEAs and short stacks. It is used for characterizing materials and components, analyzing durability and degradation or for optimizing the production processes of SOFC single cells including the accompanying quality management.

Within the 1.1m x 0.8m x 1.4m (height) frame, the test station contains flow control for fuel gas and air, fuel gas humidification, a furnace for the test item heating, the exhaust management and an electronic load. The PLC and data management are also integrated into the Evaluator C50-HT, and Fuelcon says that the PLC enables safe, fully automated operation and precision control of the operating parameters such as gas flow, temperature, humidification and load resulting in the easy programming of typical load cycles. As an option, the test station can be enhanced with integrated analytic tools such as impedance spectroscopy or cyclic voltammograms.

Source: Fuel Cell Today