Experimenting apparatus for fuel cell technology

• US 6,441,624 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH (Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG)
• Original Assignee: Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH (Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG)
• Inventors: Bronold, Matthias, Colell, Henrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUNG Q
• Application Number:
  US09/618,125
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 324/426, 324/428, 324/431, 324/691, 324/425, 324/429, 324/713, 73/233, 361/93.1, 361/93.2, 204/228, 204/406
• US Class Current: 324/691
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04305 Modeling, demonstration models of fuel cells, e.g. for training purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0656 by electrochemical means H01M8/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

An experimental apparatus for determining characteristics, including the power, of fuel cells. The apparatus contains at least three and a maximum of 15 resistors, whose resistance correspond to a profile of the characteristic to be expected. In addition, an ammeter and a voltmeter with a maximum of two measurement ranges which are typical of the power range corresponding to one or more fuel cells is provided. This makes it considerably easier to carry out experiments, particularly by trainees with little prior training.

Claims

1. An experimenting apparatus for fuel cell technology, comprising:

a fuel cell having a fuel source and operating characteristics including a current range, a voltage range, and a power range;

at least three and a maximum of 15 resistors having resistances selectively connected to said fuel cell and functioning as electrical loads, said resistances corresponding to expected operating loads of said fuel cell;

a lamp and an electric motor selectively connected to said fuel cell as further electrical loads;

an ammeter having a maximum of two measurement ranges corresponding to the power range, the voltage range and the current range of said fuel cell and connected to said fuel cell;

a voltmeter having a maximum of two measurement ranges corresponding to the power range, the current range, and the voltage range of said fuel cell and connected to said fuel cell, said resistors, said ammeter and said voltmeter provided for an experimental determination of the operating characteristics of said fuel cell;

a board having a rotary switch fitted on said board, said electrical loads, said further electrical loads and said ammeter being disposed on said board and electrically

connected to one another, said electrical loads and said further electrical loads connected to said rotary switch and selectively connected to said fuel cell through said rotary switch; and

said board having a short-circuit terminal and an open-circuit terminal connected to said rotary switch, said fuel cell to be switched to said short-circuited terminal through said rotary switch for testing a short-circuit condition, and said fuel cell to be switched to said open-circuit terminal being open contacts for measuring a no-load voltage.

2. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ammeter has a first measurement range with maximum values of up to 0.5 amperes, and a second measurement range with maximum values between 0.5 and 5 amperes for measuring a current.

3. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said voltmeter has a first measurement range with maximum values of up to 2 volts, and a second measurement range with maximum values between 5 and 20 volts for measuring a voltage.

4. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resistances of said resistors are in steps between 0.5 and 600 ohms.

5. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said resistances is between 0.5 and 5 ohms, at least one of said resistances is between 5 and 50 ohms, and at least one of said resistances is between 50 and 500 ohms and said resistors are disposed in a resistor chain.

6. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a number of said resistors is twelve resistors having resistance values of 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 ohms.

7. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, including:

connecting sockets disposed on said board and connected to said fuel cell and said voltmeter.

8. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, including a housing containing said board for protecting associated components disposed on said board.

9. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fuel source is an electrolyzer to be connected to at least one of a solar module and a gas reservoir.

10. The experimenting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is one of a plurality of fuel cells and said two measurement ranges of said ammeter and said voltmeter are configured for the characteristics of said plurality of fuel cells.