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NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) hydrogen generator with a volume-exchange fuel tank for small unmanned aerial vehicles powered by a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell

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  • Kim, Taegyu

Abstract

A proton exchange membrane fuel cell system integrated with a NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) hydrogen generator was developed for small UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles). The hydrogen generator was composed of a catalytic reactor, liquid pump and volume-exchange fuel tank, where the fuel and spent fuel exchange the volume within a single fuel tank. Co–B catalyst supported on a porous ceramic material was used to generate hydrogen from the NaBH4 solution. Considering the power consumption according to the mission profile of a UAV, the power output of the fuel cell and auxiliary battery was distributed passively as an electrical load. A blended wing-body was selected considering the fuel efficiency and carrying capability of fuel cell components. First, the fuel cell stack and hydrogen generator were evaluated under the operating conditions, and integrated into the airframe. The ground test of the complete fuel cell UAV was performed under a range of load conditions. Finally, the fuel cell powered flight test was made for 1 h. The volume-exchange fuel tank minimized the fuel sloshing and the change in center of gravity due to fuel consumption during the flight, so that much stable operation of the fuel cell system was validated at different flight modes.

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  • Kim, Taegyu, 2014. "NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) hydrogen generator with a volume-exchange fuel tank for small unmanned aerial vehicles powered by a PEM (proton exchange membrane) fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 721-727.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:69:y:2014:i:c:p:721-727
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2014.03.066
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhixing Ji & Fafu Guo & Tingting Zhu & Kunlin Cheng & Silong Zhang & Jiang Qin & Peng Dong, 2023. "Thermodynamic Performance Comparisons of Ideal Brayton Cycles Integrated with High Temperature Fuel Cells as Power Sources on Aircraft," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, February.
    2. Meng, Kai & Zhou, Haoran & Chen, Ben & Tu, Zhengkai, 2021. "Dynamic current cycles effect on the degradation characteristic of a H2/O2 proton exchange membrane fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Kwon, Soon-mo & Kim, Myoung Jin & Kang, Shinuang & Kim, Taegyu, 2019. "Development of a high-storage-density hydrogen generator using solid-state NaBH4 as a hydrogen source for unmanned aerial vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Pan, Z.F. & An, L. & Wen, C.Y., 2019. "Recent advances in fuel cells based propulsion systems for unmanned aerial vehicles," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 473-485.
    5. Oh, Taek Hyun & Gang, Byeong Gyu & Kim, Hyuntak & Kwon, Sejin, 2015. "Sodium borohydride hydrogen generator using Co–P/Ni foam catalysts for 200 W proton exchange membrane fuel cell system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 1163-1170.
    6. Park, Kilsu & Kim, Myoung-jin & Kwon, Soon-mo & Kang, Shinuang & Kim, Taegyu, 2023. "Performance evaluation of solid NaBH4-based hydrogen generator for fuel-cell-powered unmanned autonomous systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    7. Oh, Taek Hyun & Jang, Bosun & Kwon, Sejin, 2015. "Estimating the energy density of direct borohydride–hydrogen peroxide fuel cell systems for air-independent propulsion applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P1), pages 980-986.
    8. Netskina, O.V. & Komova, O.V. & Simagina, V.I. & Odegova, G.V. & Prosvirin, I.P. & Bulavchenko, O.A., 2016. "Aqueous-alkaline NaBH4 solution: The influence of storage duration of solutions on reduction and activity of cobalt catalysts," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1073-1081.
    9. Oh, Taek Hyun & Jang, Bosun & Kwon, Sejin, 2014. "Performance evaluation of direct borohydride–hydrogen peroxide fuel cells with electrocatalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 911-919.
    10. Cai, Haokun & Liu, Liping & Chen, Qiang & Lu, Ping & Dong, Jian, 2016. "Ni-polymer nanogel hybrid particles: A new strategy for hydrogen production from the hydrolysis of dimethylamine-borane and sodium borohydride," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 129-135.
    11. Oh, Taek Hyun, 2016. "A formic acid hydrogen generator using Pd/C3N4 catalyst for mobile proton exchange membrane fuel cell systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 679-685.
    12. Gang, Byeong Gyu & Kim, Hyuntak & Kwon, Sejin, 2017. "Ground simulation of a hybrid power strategy using fuel cells and solar cells for high-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 1547-1554.

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