REGENERATIVE MICRO-FUEL CELL FOR UAVS

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase I Project develops a compact regenerative proton exchange membrane fuel cell. The design approach for this project is specific to the development of an electrolyzer and fuel cell unit giving an energy storage capability greater than 250 W-hr/kg. A modular arrangement of membrane and electrode assemblies gives a wide variety of fuel cell designs for variable power and voltage applications while maintaining low weights. The improved packaging design allows power densities much greater than 1 kW/liter to be obtained. Coupled with the innovative design, the electrochemical reactions for both anode and cathode are optimized to take advantage of the design approach. The major benefits of the proposed approach are a higher power density and specific energy density that are attainable independent of orientation, a feature that allows wider applicability and usage of the fuel cell and electrolyzer unit.