Research area »Fuel cells«

The scalability of our validated research results from the laboratory scale ensures a smooth transfer of technology into your production.

Evidence-based concepts reduce development risks, increase operational safety, and meet compliance requirements.

Rapid screening, round-the-clock automation, and virtual testing shorten your development times and time-to-market.

Your processes become reliably reproducible and comparable thanks to standardized protocols and automation.

Reliable data enables informed material selection and confident technology decisions for efficient processes, durable equipment, and low costs.

Transparent documentation and systemic validations accelerate approval processes.

Our working group supports you in selecting the optimal fuel cell technology in terms of application, fuel selection, heat integration, and costs based on sound test data on low-temperature fuel cells. 1D and 3D simulation, system and BoP design, and hardware-in-the-loop create a continuous chain from cell characterization to a functional system – including environmental, harmful gas, and mechanical stresses.

We offer:

• Single cell tests: up to 25 cm²/100 A; anode H2/CO2/CO/CH4; cathode air/O2/N2/NH3; up to 180 °C; 3.5 bara
• Stack tests: NT/HT-PEM up to 6 kW; anode H2/CO2/CO/H2S; Cathode air/O2/N2/NH3/SO2/NOx; up to 130/200 °C; 6 bara
• Analytics: MS, FTIR, GC; THDA/EIS for dynamic/thermal evaluation
• 1D simulation (map/polarization-based) and 3D CFD for special questions
• Modelica: virtual testing, system design, operating strategies
• BoP/system design: requirements definition, component selection/development, CAD integration
• HIL testing with stack, pressure change/leak testing (independent media paths, water as test medium)
• Environmental/vibration/harmful gas testing and derivation of robust operating windows

We develop, verify, and optimize safety concepts for H2 systems and fuel cells tailored to your applications based on risk analyses and numerical leakage simulations. Outdoor and climate chamber tests as well as ex-situ analytics provide the data basis for action planning, ex-zone assessment, and ultimately the safe operation of your applications and systems.

We offer:

• Risk analyses (interdisciplinary, qualitative) for operation, maintenance, and repair
• Leak simulations (LS-DYNA, Ansys) including gas warning systems, ventilation, and Ex zone assessment
• Experimental verification: Online MS/FTIR/GC; high-speed and thermal imaging cameras
• Outdoor tests for potentially explosive experiments; environmental chamber tests on the stack
• Fuel cell-specific: air pollutants, media interruption, polarity reversal, short circuits
• Damage analyses (e.g., bipolar plates) and derivation of preventive measures
• Hybrid safety concepts: combination of analysis, simulation, and testing

The use of fuel cells in aviation applications poses specific challenges, requiring, for example, high power density and the lowest possible weight, efficient heat management, and reliable air supply at high altitudes. We support you in the development of efficient and safe propulsion systems, for example in the selection of efficient materials and in integrated system design. Simulations of flight protocols and BoP tests enable you to make data-based decisions. Systematic validation in subsystem and ground tests accelerates the approval process and shortens your time-to-market.

We offer:

• Qualification of stacks/components (LT/HT PEMFC) under aviation-relevant profiles
• Simulation of flight protocols; derivation of operating strategies
• Analysis of pollutant influences (airborne/fuel) and in-operando degradation studies
• BoP qualification: compressors, (de)humidifiers, H2 recirculation
• Digital twin, controller/thermal concept, packaging (airframe/pods)
• Powertrain design, integration, and prototyping
• Ground tests for systems in the 100 to 1000 kg MTOW range
• Project examples: NIMPHEA (EU CleanH2 JU), H2GA (NIP 2.0), ALBACOPTER®