A Flat Tubular Cell with High Efficiency
The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a flat tubular cell for a significant improvement in hydrogen fuel cell efficiency and the cell has an active area of 100 square meters for the first time in South Korea.
The flat tubular cell developed by the institute is based on extrusion, which means its size, thickness and length can be changed. The cell is sealed at both ends with vapor movement channels formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the cell. This structure facilitates high-density stacking and gas sealing.
"With this structure, the sealing part for vapor-oxygen contact prevention can be reduced and no cell-surrounding metal component is required,” the institute explained, continuing, "Stack manufacturing can be carried out with reliability and economic advantages, vertical stacking can be conducted to a large extent, and the excellent mechanical strength of the cell support ensures long-term stability in water electrolysis.”
The institute demonstrated a high-efficiency 10-cell stack having an output of 215 W and capable of generating 160 L of hydrogen per hour at 750 degrees Celsius. The cells showed a power generation efficiency of 50 percent along with a water electrolysis stack efficiency of 100 percent. According to it, this level is at least 20 percent higher than those of low-temperature water electrolysis techniques such as polyelectrolyte and alkaline types.