SAE Off-Highway Engineering Names Avista , Maxwell Fuel Cells and Donaldson's Fuel-Cell Technologies For 2002 

Source:SAE

Avista Labs, the distributed power affiliate of Avista Corp., is using PowerCache ultracapacitors from Maxwell Technologies to optimize performance and reduce the cost of its modular fuel-cell systems and components. Maxwell develops and markets electronic components and power and computing systems for the transportation and industrial industries. Avista is developing fuel-cell products initially for application in distributed power generation and industrial power backup systems, and "may pursue future applications in vehicle auxiliary power units and industrial and consumer electronic devices." 

Carl Eibl, Maxwell's President and CEO, and J. Michael Davis, Avista Labs' CEO, said that the companies have signed a multi-year supply agreement and are exploring areas of mutual interest for a broader strategic relationship. 

"Avista Labs' proprietary design—integrating fuel-cell and ultracapacitor technologies—has produced a high-performance, compact generator system that can accelerate the advancement of fuel cells into the alternative power and components supply mainstream," said Eibl. The ultracapacitors deliver rapid bursts of power for start-up and peak load buffering, making them well suited for fuel-cell-energy generation. 

"Our proprietary method of integrating ultracapacitors into our power-management circuitry will allow us to make components and systems across a range of voltage applications with significant reductions in size and cost," said Davis. 

Avista's fuel-cell products are book-sized modular proton-exchange membrane fuel-cell cartridges. Individual cartridges can be removed and replaced ("hot-swapped") without shutting down the entire system, providing "zero downtime" power. According to Davis, Avista has installed dozens of operating demonstration fuel-cell generators in a range of field applications and is now offering products for selected commercial applications. 

Every day it becomes clearer that fuel cells are no fad. The fact that they involve no combustion through the conversion of chemical energy into dc power with only heat and water as byproducts has researchers around the world wanting to use them to power everything from cell phones to submarines. For the most part, much fuel-cell development has occurred in the controlled, contaminant-free environment of laboratories. According to Donaldson Co., an improved understanding of fuel-cell contamination problems is a critical issue in the commercialization of the closest technology we have found yet to realize a perpetual-power machine. 

"Intake-air (or cathode side) filtration is a crucial component for ensuring fuel-cell reliability and performance, but it's just now being included as a core subsystem," said Eivind Stenersen, Chief Engineer of Donaldson's Fuel Cell Contamination Control (FC3) business unit. "Ambient air in all corners of the world contains contaminants that can compromise the fuel-cell-system durability, life, and performance. To make the leap from the lab to the marketplace, fuel cells will require particulate and chemical filtration of the cathode air. 

Donaldson announced in September 2001 that it had developed the "first" airborne contaminant and noise filtration systems designed for fuel-cell-specific applications. The products are being studied in a jointly funded contamination-control-research program at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. "Based on our collaboration with Los Alamos Laboratory, we know that hydrogen fuel cells are poised to become the energy source of the future," said Richard Canepa, Director of FC3. 

Donaldson has reacted to Canepa's prediction by establishing FC3 offices in North America, Asia, and Europe, which is working with several fuel-cell manufacturers and product developers to make the technology a commercially viable power source for a wide range of transportation, residential, and portable applications. 

In addition to extending fuel-cell life by shielding the system from airborne contaminants, the FC3 cathode-filtration system also integrates noise-control features to reduce noise from fuel-cell compressors and fans.