FCTestLab

Individual Heat and/or Power Systems Supplied by Fuels

The FCTestLab is operated in collaboration with the KIT Institute for Applied Materials – Electrochemical Technologies (IAM-ET) and is located at KIT Campus South. It has been inaugurated in 2004 and is the oldest laboratory of EIFER.

The laboratory is dedicated to the testing of hydrogen applications and individual heat or power generation devices, fueled by gases, liquids or biomass. It serves the development and evaluation of technical, economic and environmental performance of hydrogen systems & components (fuel cells, electrolysis), small combined heat & power (mCHP) and domestic heating systems.

Activities

The activities of the FCTestLab are covering the entire value chain of small energy conversion systems, from component to application. Four independent test stands provide supplies and measurement equipment for operating components, prototypes and systems at any stage of development. Unattended long term testing (24/7) can be carried out under safe conditions.

FCTestLab Value Chain

EIFER FCTestLab_3
FC-TestLab_Eifer
FC-TestLab_Eifer
Fuel Cells, Electrolysis Cells & Stacks
  • Test bench for PEM FC/EL single cell characterization (25 cm²)
  • Test bench for PEM FC stack testing (100 cm², up to 1,5 kWel)
  • Identification of degradation behavior by long term testing
  • Supply with various gas compositions
  • High frequency current & voltage analysis
Fuel Cell Based & Conventional mCHP Systems
  • Test benches for natural gas supplied mCHP systems (up to 20 kWel, 30 kWth)
  • Operation of complete domestic central heating systems
  • Efficiency characterization by precise measurement of energy inputs and outputs
  • Simulation of building behavior by controlled thermal load
  • Application of 24h real time heat demand profiles
  • Measurement equipment for emission behavior
Wood Heating Systems
  • Test bench for wood fired single room heaters (up to 12 kWth) and central heating boilers (up to 30 kWth)
  • Efficiency characterization by precise measurement of energy inputs and outputs
  • Measurement equipment for emission behavior (gaseous, organic compounds & particles)
  • Possibility of testing wood fired mCHP systems
Preparation of Field Experiments
  • Test stand for the design and construction of data acquisition systems for field experiments
  • Equipment for developing and testing prototype components of hydrogen supply systems
Examples of Current Projects
  • RUBY (EU FCH JU 2020 – 2023) Robust and reliable general management tool for performance and durability improvement of fuel cell stationary units
  • COSMHYC + COSMHYC XL (EU FCH JU 2017 – 2021) Innovative compression solutions for efficient hydrogen mobility

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