Optimized High Temperature PEM Fuel Cell & High Pressure PEM Electrolyser for Regenerative Fuel Cell Systems in GEO Telecommunication Satellites

¹ Researcher at CMR Prototech, Fantoftvegen 38 PO Box 60345892 Bergen Norway
² Researcher at CMR Prototech, Fantoftvegen 38 PO Box 60345892 Bergen Norway
³ CEO at Ideevolutie, European Space Innovation Centre (ESIC) Kapteynstraat 12201 BB Noordwijk, The Netherlands
⁴ Project engineer at CMR Prototech, Fantoftvegen 38 PO Box 60345892 Bergen Norway
⁵ European Space Agency, ESTEC - Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk Zh, The Netherlands
⁶ European Space Agency, ESTEC - Keplerlaan 1, 2201 AZ Noordwijk Zh, The Netherlands
⁷ Technology Director at CMR Prototech, Fantoftvegen 38 PO Box 6034 5892 Bergen Norway

Jarle.farnes@prototech.no
Dmitry.bokach@prototech.no
sander.tenhoopen@ideevolutie.nl
kim.skatun@prototech.no
max.schautz@esa.int
Xavier.geneste@esa.int
arild.vik@prototech.no

Abstract

Next generation telecommunication satellites will demand increasingly more power. Power levels up to 50 kW are foreseen for the next decades. Battery technology that can sustain up to 50 kW for eclipse lengths of up to 72 minutes will represent a major impact on the total mass of the satellite, even with new Li-ion battery technologies. Regenerative fuel cell systems (RFCS) were identified years ago as a possible alternative to rechargeable batteries. CMR Prototech has investigated this technology in a series of projects initiated by ESA focusing on both the essential fuel cell technology, demonstration of cycle performance of a RFCS, corresponding to 15 years in orbit, as well as the very important reactants storage systems. In the last two years the development has been focused towards optimising the key elements of the RFCS; the HTPEM fuel cell and the High Pressure PEM electrolyser. In these ESA activities the main target has been to optimise the design by reducing the mass and at the same time improve the performance, thus increasing the specific energy. This paper will present the latest development, including the main results, showing that significant steps have been taken to increase TRL on these key components.