SCC Fuel Cell Course

Today, at Sinclair Community College, a major step in Precision Energy & Technology’s business strategy was implemented.  Don Homan, Interim Chairman, Robotics and Electronics – Sinclair Community College received the first four Educational Fuel Cell Kits from Thomas Willis, President of Precision Energy & Technology (PET). Sinclair CC is one of a growing number of institutions that is training students in the area of fuel cells and alternative energy. “With our proximity to PET, we had an opportunity to collaborate with them on the development of the kit”, said Don Homan. “Our current students had a chance to spend an evening at PET and had the opportunity to see how fuel cells are manufactured. We are pleased with the results of the kit and look forward utilizing them in the classroom. Hands-on experience is invaluable for students to learn about fuel cells and hydrogen generation.”

Precision Energy & Technology, a Kettering alternative energy firm, is located in UDRI’s CMPND area of the National Composite Center (NCC). The firm has been developing fuel cells since November 2005 and has worked with a number of fuel cell types and manufacturers. The company is expanding its product lines from PEM fuel cell components – MEAs and Bipolar Plates to educational fuel cell kits and energy storage.

The PET educational fuel cell kit was developed through a grant sponsored by EMTEC’s Core program.  PET teamed with Surinder Jain and Don Homan of Sinclair Community College and Frank Svet, 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. In addition, Thomas Willis, President of PET went into the field and interviewed other educators as to their opinions as to “what should be” in a fuel cell kit.

The Educational Fuel Cell Kit, model HSFCS-01, is a good starting point for anyone interested in developing an alternative energy program – beginning with hydrogen and fuel cells. The unit comes in a sturdy aluminum case and contains, a Hydrogen Generator – HG 10, a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell-FC-10, a Fuel Cell Tester, a motorized propeller for a load, and a Manual. It is price at an introductory price of $1250.00. The kit is also expandable for instructions in multi-cell power.

For more details on this kit and other alternative energy products visit PET’s website – www.petfc.com.

NSF SBIR AWARD

NSF awards a SBIR project to Precision Energy and Technology titled, Utilizing Metal Injection Molding to meet High Volume, Cost Effective Manufacturing of Bipolar Plates. This grant will seek to understand the ability of using metal injection molding as a method to economically manufacture fuel cell bipolar plates. The emphasis of the program is to understand the materials capabilities in thin sections and the forming of these plates. The program will run until December 2009.

Any parties interested in understanding more about the use of metal injection molding for bipolar plates should contact Thomas Willis 937-558-2708 or email at twillis@petfc.com.