Fuel Cell Blowers
Fuel cells are becoming more viable for both automotive and stationary applications and with the development of an efficient method for hydrogen production and distribution, fuel cells will become commonplace. Barber-Nichols, Inc. (BNI) makes efficient, small, high-speed Fuel Cell Blowers for both air supply or anode gas recirculation. BNI also provides small, efficient cooling pumps and turbines for fuel cell applications. These machines are customized for specific fuel cells to meet the highest attainable efficiency goals.
Barber-Nichols designed and manufactured a compact, highly efficient fuel cell blower for an automotive application. This blower used a high-speed, brushless DC motor to drive a partial emission impeller for the recirculation of anode gas (mostly H2 ). In order to meet an aggressive high pressure / low flow requirement, the blower was designed to operate at speeds approaching 50,000 rpm.
A custom designed, fully integrated Communication Area Network (CAN) controller is attached to the blower to minimize its size. Additionally, this blower was designed to meet a litany of difficult design criteria that included high external temperatures, large shock loads, corrosion resistance, high efficiency, and an extended maintenance interval. This unit was successfully field tested in a fuel cell system aboard a bus.
BNI recently designed, manufactured, and thoroughly tested a second automotive fuel cell blower. This blower is also being used to recirculate anode gas and it operates at speeds up to 35,000 rpm. A brushless DC motor is controlled by a custom designed, fully integrated, EMI/EMC resistant controller that utilizes available water/glycol for cooling. High ambient temperatures, relatively high coolant temperatures, high anode gas temperatures, and high water vapor concentrations in the anode gas all combined to create an extremely harsh working environment. Despite these conditions, the blower has an extremely long life and can operate for long periods of time between scheduled maintenance. Barber-Nichols successfully life tested the blower, and the automotive manufacturer tested it in their fuel cell. In the near future this blower will be integrated into an automobile for field testing.