Fuel Cell and Hybrid Systems

The Fuel Cell and Hybrid Systems (FuCHS) team is specialized on the development, integration, and analysis of fuel cell and hybrid systems for aerospace and particularly demanding applications. The focus is on the systemic integration of hydrogen-based power converters into electrical on-board grids, as well as on their design, control, and evaluation under real-world conditions in aviation and particularly demanding operating conditions. Our goal is to contribute to emission-free mobility through innovative, reliable, and efficient hybrid drive systems. 

Research activities

• Fuel cell operation with gas mixtures based on hydrogen and exhaust gas from epitaxy processes
• Advanced operating strategies, in particular hydrogen purging and recirculation
• Energy balancing and optimization of fuel cell systems, including balance of plant (BoP)

Cooperation services

• Integration and characterization of test components, fuel cell system components, e.g., fuel cell stacks or systems
• Development of control strategies

Test benches for fuel cell systems

• Adjustable hydrogen-nitrogen mixture
• Adjustable pressure and humidity at the hydrogen inlet of the PEM fuel cell
• Adapted operating strategies for PEM fuel cell systems in the power range up to 12 kW_el at system level
• Testing of various hydrogen system components

• Investigation of fuel cell systems with up to multiple 100 kW_el
  
• Testing of newly developed power electronics on the fuel cell system
• Coupling of fuel cell systems with batteries and battery management systems
• Coupling of fuel cell systems, power electronics, battery, and drive train or engine test bench, i.e., the complete system environment of a fuel cell system with additional components
• Investigation and optimization of the operating strategy of complete systems for a wide range of applications