SBIR/STTR Award attributes
Fuel cells are important power sources that can address the Army’s needs for dismounted soldier power, small tactical electric power, and platoon power. They are efficient and quiet. UltraCell has been developing and manufacturing fuel cell systems since 2002. UltraCell is researching on fuel cell systems with different fuels, for example, methanol, liquefied petroleum gas, JP-8, and R-8 hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel. Currently UltraCell’s high technology readiness level (TRL)/ manufacturing readiness level (MRL) products use 62 wt% methanol aqueous solution. Methanol has high energy density (5.538 kWh/kg based on lower heating value). It is easy to store, transport, and distribute. A methanol steam reformer (MSR) is used to convert methanol into hydrogen-rich product gas, which contains greater than 70 vol% H2. The product gas is directly fed into a high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to generate electric power without any cleanup or purification. UltraCell fuel cells can be stored and operate in environments with ambient temperatures ranging from –30 °C to +50 °C.
