Dec 8 2008
UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of reformed methanol fuel cells (RMFCs) for mobile power applications, today announced that the company has received a three-year, competitively-selected, cost-shared grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a quality control system for high-volume fuel cell manufacturing. Working with partners Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Cincinnati Test Systems (CTS), UltraCell will design a system capable of inspecting 50 fuel cells per hour.
Part of DOE's Hydrogen Program and aimed at advancing high-volume fuel cell manufacturing, the project is expected to total approximately $4.7 million, with up to $2.4 million total government share and $2.3 million matching cost share. The need to inspect fuel cells for potential gas leaks within the assembly process can slow manufacturing operations and limit automated assembly capabilities. By implementing a system capable of high-rate leak-checking, fuel cell producers can more efficiently integrate mass manufacturing technologies.
Once complete, UltraCell will test the leak-checking system in its Livermore-based headquarters, and upon validation, the technology will be implemented in the company's manufacturing facility in Dayton, Ohio. UltraCell began automating portions of its assembly line in April and remains one of the nation's only volume fuel cell manufacturing facilities currently in operation. Hardware for the leak-checking system will be designed by CTS, a leader in designing and manufacturing leak-test solutions for manufacturing operations. PNNL, one of DOE's thirteen national laboratories and home to a number of world-renowned scientists and engineers, will develop novel, high speed leak-checking methods for the project.
"Streamlining the manufacturing process is vitally important to the advancement of our industry," said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. "We're delighted to be a part of this crucial step in improving fuel cell manufacturing technology, and with the leak-checking system in place, we will be able to safely and more efficiently produce our units in high volume." UltraCell's RMFC technology -- fueled by methanol, a renewable, lightweight fuel -- provides uninterrupted power for extended periods at a considerable weight advantage over existing power solutions. The company's flagship product, the XX25, delivers up to 25 watts of continuous power and weighs less than three pounds, making it an ideal portable power solution for the most demanding environments.
The company's XX55™, announced today (see release: UltraCell® Unveils Industry's First Ultra Compact Portable Fuel Cell with Integrated Hybrid-Battery Capability), is the first fuel cell to offer fully optimized battery integration, enabling a wide range of off-the-shelf batteries to be utilized and tailored to the end-user's requirements.