Hybrid Energy Lab – System
A Fuel Cell – Battery Hybrid System that enables users to understand & research individual components and system behavior under various hybrid set-ups. Designed as a lab to support engineering courses focussed on the application of fuel cells, battery technology, hybrid systems, energy management and energy storage. Critical to today’s engineering students is a deep understanding of the application of electrical chemical energy conversion & storage. Especially as it relates to fast growing markets of stationary, portable and mobile hybrid power systems.
Ideal for Courses Focused On
- Battery Technology (Modeling)
- Battery Systems & Control
- Applied Fuel Cell Technology
- Battery- Fuel Cell Hybrids
- Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion
- Renewable Energy Storage
- Electrical & Hybrid Vehicles (HEV/FCEV)
- Backup Power Systems
- Micro-Grids & Smart Grids
Key Features
The system provides an experimental platform for advanced training to applied research:
- Fuel Cell – Battery Hybrids
- Battery Charging/Discharging
- Battery & Fuel Cell Model Analysis & Comparison
- Calculation & Evaluation of Electrical Characteristics
- Energy Management
- User Developed Control Algorithms
- Validation of Models Against a Real System
- Hybrid Power System Set-ups: UPS, Autonomous Power Supply, Back-up Power System, HEV/FCEV
Software
Our LabVIEW™ based software allows users to control the hardware, system operation & set-up, gather & display data in various formats and perform data fitting for research and experimentation. Users can validate their models against a real system by using their control algorithms to set system parameters and then run real-time simulations. Acquired data can be exported to external applications such as MATLAB™ & MS Excel and many more.
NEW:
- Battery Modeling & Data Fitting
- Hybrid Energy Management
- Application Programming Interface (API)
Instruction and Experimantation Material
Extensive training material assists the teacher in creating a more interactive and specialized classroom experience. Prepared experiments and software-supported exercises simplify the use of the system.
Experimentation manual with:
- Learning goals and content: Instructions for the execution of experiments & Topic-specific questions and sample answers
- Evaluation templates
- Detailed operating manual
Experiments including:
- System design for special applications: Backup, Emergency power supply (UPS), Autonomous power supply,Boost, range extender
- Examination of the operating behavior of: Battery module, Fuel cell module, DC converter
- Determination of the efficiency and energy conversion
- Examination of load step changes of up to 1.5 kW
- Generation of characteristic curves
System Overview
Control and Experimentation PC
- System Overview
- Real-Time Display & Data Measurements
- Execution of experiments
System Overview Module
- Display for system parameters and controlling
Electronic Load
- Simulation of electrical loads
- Operating modes: CC, CV, CP, CR
- Manual or software-supported control
Battery System Module
- Selection of the battery capacity
- Connecting external batteries possible
Power Electronics Module
- Configuration of the battery charging regulation
- Preparation of regulated DC or AC voltage
- Inverters with power through circuit
- Sensor system
Fuel Cell Module
- Well established Nexa 1200 W fuel cell
- Unegulated DC Outpout
- Hydrogen consumption measurement
- Stack temperature monitoring
H2 Storage Module
- Heliocentris Metal Hydride Canister
- Storage temperature monitoring
Realistic Application of Hybrid System
Range Extender
- Planning of system switching
- Range calculation of the overall system
Autonomous Power Supply
- System runs disconnected from the grid so it must be dimensioned to operate autonomously at all times
- Starts from internal energy supply
Hybrid Electric Vehicles
- The system design allows for the same configurations found in typical
- Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicles (FCEV)
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
- In UPS mode, the system provides continuous power in case of grid failure to ensure continuous power
- Automatic switching between battery & fuel cell operation