News Source: TOI
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a 100 W class Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell based Power System (FCPS) in its orbital platform, POEM3, which was launched onboard PSLV-C58.
1. Objective
- To assess Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell operation in space and to collect data to facilitate the design of systems for future missions.
2. What is Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell?
- Polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have emerged as one of the eminent technologies of the 21st century. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of fuel into electrical energy. They are also known as proton exchange membrane fuel cells.
Fuel cells are generally classified according to the electrolyte and its ionic conductivity, which can be –
- Hydrogen ions or protons (H+)
- Hydroxyl ions (OH-)
- Carbonate ions (CO32-)
- Oxide (O2-)
Fuel cells can be used in a wide range of applications, providing power for applications across multiple sectors, including transportation, industrial/commercial/residential buildings, and long-term energy storage for the grid in reversible systems.
- The key component in a PEMFC is the proton exchange membrane.
3. Significance of the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell:
- The fuel cell generated 180W power from Hydrogen and Oxygen gases stored onboard in high-pressure vessels during the short-duration test.
- It produced electricity directly from Hydrogen and Oxygen gases, along with pure water and heat.
- Working Principle: It is an electric generator that works on electrochemical principles, as in batteries, as opposed to the combustion reactions employed in conventional generators.
- It has ability to produce electricity directly from fuels without intermediate steps renders them very efficient.
- They are totally emission-free because water is the only byproduct.
- These features make them ideal candidates for human space missions where electric power, water and heat are essential since a single system can meet multiple requirements in the mission.
- Fuel Cells also possess significant societal application potential.
- They are regarded as the best choice for replacing engines in various vehicles and powering backup power systems today.
- It can provide the same range and fuel recharge time as a traditional engine, providing it a clear advantage over batteries, and is projected to promote emission-free transportation.
4. About the POEM (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) initiative:
- ISRO’s POEM platform has standard interfaces and packaging for power generation, telemetry, telecommand stabilization, orbital-station keeping, and orbital maneuvering.
- This allows space agencies and private companies to design, develop, and validate experimental orbital payloads.
- Under its standard configuration, ISRO’s PSLV rocket is a four-stage rocket.
- The first three spent stages fall back into the ocean, while the final stage (P4) ends up in space as junk after launching satellites into orbit.
- However, the POEM initiative uses the spent final stage as a “stabilized platform to perform experiments.
5. About Fuel Cell-based Power System (FCPS):
- The FCPS payload is significant as it has potential applications in India’s space station, which is proposed to come up by 2035.