Educational FC
May 25, 2009
Precision Energy and Technology (PET), an OFCC member, has released Ohio’s first Education Fuel Cell Kit. The kit was developed through a grant sponsored by EMTEC’s Core program. A well rounded educational tool, it teaches students about good manufacturing methods as well as fuel cell technology.
In terms of how this idea to develop a fuel cell kit came about, PET teamed with Jain Surinder and Don Homan of Sinclair Community College as well as Dr. Michael Martin and Elliot Salmon of EMTEC to outline the needs of a PEM Fuel Cell course at the high school and university level. Thomas Willis, President of PET, went into the field and interviewed other educators to get their thoughts on fuel cell kits. One concern educators expressed was the issue that getting hydrogen in the classroom is often a safety problem. Therefore with this in mind, the PET adapted the original concept of the fuel cell kit to include a hydrogen generator, which safely delivers hydrogen to the fuel cell in small quantities at low pressure.
The PET fuel cell kit was developed with other factors in mind as well. For example, the team determined durability was crucial. Therefore, all of the parts needed to assemble the fuel cell, were reviewed for rugged durability and for good practices for manufacturing assembly. The kit itself includes a hydrogen generator, a PEM fuel cell, a fuel cell electronic load tester, and an electric motor with propeller (as a load), all in a sturdy aluminum case. Students learn about assembling a single PEM fuel cell-housings, gaskets, MEAs, and bipolar plates. Hopefully, the kit will inspire great applications with this better understanding of PEM fuel cells.
“This kit is not a fuel cell toy! It is a professional quality kit. The hydrogen generator, fuel cell, and fuel cell tester have the same quality and durability that students should find in any fuel cell product they encounter in the field,” says Don Homan, Interim Chairperson Electronics and Robotics, Sinclair Community College. Sinclair Community College is currently teaching a fuel cell class this quarter and students will get firsthand experience working with the new kit.