SBIR-STTR Award

Hydrogen Peroxide Based Fuel Cell for High Energy Density Space application
Award last edited on: 2/23/2007

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : DARPA
Total Award Amount
$849,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
SB032-048
Principal Investigator
Nie Luo

Company Information

NPL Associates (AKA: N- Plasma Laboratory Association~Nuclear PlasmaLaboratories)

912 West Armory
Champaign, IL 61821
   (217) 333-3772
   gmiley@n-plasma.com
   www.n-plasma.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 13
County: Champaign

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2004
Phase I Amount
$99,000
The objective of this research is to study the feasibility of a unique high energy-density space power system based on a direct hydrogen peroxide fuel cell. Such a power system has an energy density 10 times higher than that available from the most advanced battery systems today and meets the requirements for Unconventional Space Power set forth in DARPA SB032-048. Unlike conventional fuel cells that employ oxygen, this radical new type of hydrogen peroxide fuel cell uses H2O2 directly in the cathode. This direct process eradicates the energy loss and weight penalty associated with prior attempts to develop H2O2 fuel cells where oxygen was generated via the catalytic decomposition of H2O2. The result is a highly efficient, high power density unit that is ideally suited for a variety of demanding space applications. The proposed study would demonstrate operation of such a small prototype cell and characterize its operational performance and efficiency.

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2005
Phase II Amount
$750,000
The objective of this Phase II project is to demonstrate the engineering feasibility of a high power, unitized, regenerative fuel cell that uses sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) directly at the fuel cell (FC) electrodes. Such a Regenerative Fuel Cell (RFC) is ideally suited for the demanding Unconventional Space Power requirements set forth by DARPA. The engineering prototype proposed would be a kW-class unit, based on the scale-up of the highly successful NaBH4/ H2O2 fuel cell demonstrated by NPL Associates in Phase I. This cell, termed I-CHARGERTM, uses aqueous solutions of NaBH4 and H2O2 directly at the anode and cathode, respectively. This direct process, as shown in experiment, results in >30% higher voltage output compared to ordinary H2/O2 fuel cell, and consequently a 30% higher efficiency. Also the unique combination of the fuel and oxidizer, both being in aqueous form, paves the way for a unique unitized design which is inherently compact compared cells that use gas phase reactants, such as the conventional H2 and O2 fuel cell. Thus I-CHARGERTM is uniquely suited for space power applications, and that is the primary focus of the Phase II development. FUEL CELL, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE FUEL CELL, REGENERATIVE FUEL CELL, SODIUM BOROHYDRATE HYDROGEN STORAGE, SPACE POWER UNIT,I-CHARGERTM, DIRECT AQUEOUS FEED