Fuel cell system with sodium borohydride hydrogen generator for small unmanned aerial vehicles |
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Authors: | Eun Sang Jung Hyuntak Kim Sejin Kwon |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Bioenvironmental Energy, College of Natural Resource and Life Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea;2. Department of Aerospace Engineering, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea |
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Abstract: | A 100 W proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system with a sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrogen generator was investigated for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The performance of a cobalt–phosphorous/nickel foam catalyst was evaluated to determine the change in catalytic activity under real operating conditions. The response time increased owing to oxidation of the metals and accumulation of sodium; however, the catalyst remained active at high reaction temperatures. A NaBH4 hydrogen generator with the catalyst was developed for a 100 W PEMFC system. The hydrogen generation rate was stable for 3 h, and the conversion efficiency was 97.8%. Finally, a 100 W PEMFC system with the NaBH4 hydrogen generator was investigated for small UAVs. The maximum power and energy density of the PEMFC system were 95.96 W and 185.2 Wh/kg, respectively. |
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Keywords: | Cobalt–phosphorous/nickel foam catalyst hydrolysis proton exchange membrane fuel cell sodium borohydride unmanned aerial vehicle |
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