1. Protonex™
• Southborough, Ma based company
• A leading provider of rugged and portable Proton
Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
(SOFC) solutions in the 100 - 1000 watt range
• Power management devices dramatically change the way
critical power is delivered on and off of the battlefield
• Currently serves military and government agencies while
looking to expand into commercial markets
Background
Problem Statement
Proposed Design
• Vapor withdrawal testing confirmed need for thermally controlled fuel
delivery system
• Calorimeter testing confirmed 39.2 watts needed to vaporize butane fuel
• Ballast filling testing lead to system design changes to vent fuel as ballast
filled and demonstrated time required to fill
• Vaporizer testing established minimum vaporizer temperature of 37°C and
proper function at any orientation
Results
Testing
Vapor Withdrawal - Observe flow behavior under unaltered
conditions
Calorimeter - Confirm theoretical energy requirements
Ballast Filling – Demonstrate filling capability
Vaporizer Operation – Evaluate functionality of vaporizer
Electronic System - Ensure proper monitoring and control
Full System – Establish prototype system capability
Fuel Cell Integration – Demonstrate system integrated with
Protonex fuel cell
Conclusions
• Relocating the point of vaporization via liquid withdrawal
simplifies the system
• With this system minimal energy must be supplied to the
can to maintain isothermal condition
• A parallel internal liquid ballast is an effective solution
• Construction of ballast dictates additional system weight
and size
• A more complex solution doesn’t always result in a
better solution
Acknowledgements
Mr. Joshua Persky, Director of Fuel Cell Ceramics, Protonex
Mr. Forrest Harrington, Mechanical Engineer, Protonex
Dr. Sankha Bhowmick, UMass Dartmouth, Technical Adviser
Dr. David Rancour UMass Dartmouth, Technical Adviser
Dr. Peter Friedman, UMass Dartmouth, Technical Adviser
Mr. Donald A Foster, UMass Dartmouth, Professor
Mrs. Susan M Cunha, UMass Dartmouth, MNE Office
Define:
• Customer needs, schedule, project specifications,
scope, and deliverables
Research:
• Fundamentals of problem and similar applications
Concept Generation:
• Thermal regulation
• Fuel withdrawal methods – vapor or liquid
• Ballast integration – inline or parallel
System Level Design:
• Validate working principles
Testing:
• Demonstrate project capability
Evaluation:
• Expected and observed function
Chris Jordan, Keith Blanchard, Matthew Godfrey, Kyle Rowe, Jerry Olivier
Integrate system into portable fuel cell and maximize
second law efficiency
• Recycle exhaust heat
Further develop cold environment operation of system
• Design insulated housing and additional heating
Enhance safety features to increase system redundancy
• Thermal switches to prevent overheating
Introduce additional features that enhance user utility
• LEDs to display supply can state
Future Work
Design Approach
Butane Delivery System for
a Portable Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
To expand its advanced fuel cell portfolio into commercial
markets, Protonex needs a reliable fuel delivery system
that operates on easily accessible butane fuel.
System Requirements:
• Isothermal fuel supply canister
• Dynamically regulated fuel flow
• Internal ballast for an emergency shutdown
• Minimal draw on balance of plant
• Operates between -20 and 50 ⁰C
• Safe and simple operation
Stage 1: Liquid butane is supplied to the
ballast. As the liquid fills the ballast vapor
butane is vented and supplied to a pre-burner
Stage 2: When the ballast is full of liquid
butane the fuel from the supply can is sent
directly to the vaporizer
Stage 3: Once butane supply cans are
evacuated the system will automatically
initiate a controlled system shutdown
System Layout: Depicts required system
components for a two-can configuration
Fuel Flow Requirements:
• Pre-burner: 1 SLPM at 10 PSIG for first 5 minutes
• Start-up: 2 SLPM at 10 PSIG for next 5 minutes
• Standard Operation: 1 SLPM at 10 PSIG
• Standard Shutdown: 1 SLPM at 10 PSIG for 20 minutes
• Emergency Shutdown: 1 SLPM at 10 PSIG for 20
minutes from internal ballast
System Features:
• Expandable butane can
capacity
• Reliable shutdown with
internal ballast
• Automated system
operation
• Efficient in-line fuel
vaporizer
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Operation
The figure on the left demonstrates full system capability needed to continue
integration into an operational fuel cell test stand. The above figure shows data
collected during a successful test of the prototype integrated with a Protonex
SOFC test stand
Prototype System on Test Stand