850 cm2 bipolar plate in the polymer-metal matrix.

 Precision Energy and Technology has announced a successful demonstration of its new technology in metal bipolar plates. Through the support of the National Science Foundation, the company has developed several size bipolar plates using a polymer-metal matrix material. These new plates meet the demand of the fuel cell integrators with very thin cross-sections and highly detailed groove structures on both sides of the plate. Unlike other technologies, the grooved design can be independently configured and with this material, design flexibility is nearly unlimited. This demonstration has proven stainless steel plates can be produced at 0.1mm thickness in the groove area with bipolar plates from 25 cm² to 850 cm² in area. At this point only stainless steel bipolar plates have been produced, but copper, titanium, and several other materials are possible. Precision Energy & Technology is also working on a new material (PETALLOY) for high temperature bipolar plates in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell systems.

Precision Energy & Technology’s president, Thomas Willis, believes this technology may be capable of also meeting the large scale bipolar plates used in the phosphoric acid fuel cell industry as well.

The technology can produce repeatable, high volumes at a cost effect rate and that is what makes it attractive. Precision Energy and Technology has generated IP in this area with respect to corrosion improvements and assembly methods.

The company plans to present some of its samples to the Air Force Research Laboratory- Materials & Manufacturing for their evaluation, as the demand for new methods of producing this type of large plate may be of interest.

Precision Energy & Technology is an alternative energy company located in Dayton, Ohio. The company was started in 2005 with a focus on fuel cell components, fuel cell manufacturing technology, educational fuel cells, hydrogen generation components, carbon nanofiber electrodes, and other specialize materials for the alternative energy industry. If you have any questions regarding metal bipolar plates or other fuel cell components, please contact Thomas Willis, PE  at  937-558-2708.

If you are interested in this project, please contact Thomas Willis at 937-558-2708 or email twillis@petfc.com.

Don Homan (left) of Sinclair CC receives the new educational fuel cell kit from Thomas Willis (right), President of Precision Energy and Technology.

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.

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.

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.

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The 2008 Fuel Cell Symposium in Phoenix Arizona was Precision Energy & Technology’s first visit to the show. Sharing a booth from EMTEC and Faraday Technology, PET displayed its new line on Educational Fuel Cells, Hydrogen Generators and Fuel Cell Testers. The booth was located down the now famous Ohio Fuel Cell Corridor with many of our Ohio colleagues such as Battelle, GrafTech, NexTech, OFFC, and many others. The show demonstrated fuel cells are still penetrating the market place with various applications. UltraCell and AMI had their mobile military fuel cells for soldiers, Battelle was demonstrated their 5 kilowatt unit running on diesel, and Idatech showed the 250 watt unit for recharging.

Overall it was a good show and PET had an opportunity to meet a number of new customers and suppliers.

Maps and Directions!