Hexcel reports that it has partnered with fuel cell manufacturers to develop lighter and more compact composite fuel cells for transportation.
Plans are for DOLPHIN project partners to initially make a 5kW fuel cell stack demonstrator with increased power density, followed by a fully developed 100kW stack design. The fuel cells feature a new cell architecture with a repeating unit reduced to two integrated core components, which, according to Hexcel, could help reduce production costs and speed up the commercialization of fuel cells. The companies also want to achieve a 25% increase in volumetric power density.
For the project, Hexcel is supplying its PrimeTex lightweight spread tow woven carbon fiber reinforcements used in dry form and as a single-ply (<100μm thickness) HexPly M901 prepreg in the fuel cell’s gas diffusion layers and bi-polar plates, respectively. According to Hexcel the patented fiber spreading technology of the low aerial weight reinforcements helps improve uniformity and provides a gap-free structure, reducing porosity. Prepreg laminates will also be applied to the terminal plates.
Other partners in the project include JV Faurecia, Michelin, ZSW Ulm, Chemours, DMG MORI Additive GmbH, and The University of Manchester.
This story uses material from Hexcel, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
