Regenerative Fuel Cell System for Shipboard UPS Application

Proton Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corporation (DESC) is developing a novel energy storage technology to replace batteries in premium backup power and UPS applications. DESC’s technology is known as a “regenerative fuel cell” (RFC), and it provides significant advantages over incumbent batteries in these applications. The regenerative fuel cell can be thought of as the functional equivalent to a rechargeable battery. When a primary power source is available, the electrolyzer subsystem is keeping the hydrogen storage module topped off. When the primary power source is lost, the fuel cell subsystem is automatically engaged, and there is no loss of DC power to the loads being backed up. The RFC architecture provides for some unique characteristics that cannot be replicated with battery technology. Ultimately, the primary advantage of this technology is that it can provide a rechargeable energy storage system with the highest specific energy and volumetric energy density of any system currently under demonstration.