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Los Alamos National Laboratory_Fuel Cells Fuel Cell at Los Alamos
 




THE MARKET

TRANSPORTATION:
scooters to submarines

PORTABLE POWER:
cell phonws, computers,
remote lighting

DISTRIBUTED POWER:
to industry & homes

MILITARY OPERATIONS

Fuel cell technology has the potential to transform the transportation industry. Fuel cell-powered ultra-low and zero emission vehicles represent significant progress in the movement to make vehicular travel more environmentally sound. Fuel cells not only create few, if any, harmful emissions, but they also use fuel more efficiently than traditional power sources.

Since the emergence of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology over 20 years ago, Los Alamos has been a research leader in support of transportation applications. The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has relied on LANL researchers’ innovations at all stages of the technology's development.

Among Los Alamos’ most important accomplishments are:
  • Early fuel cell demonstrations that jumpstarted the fuel cell transportation industry.
  • Presentation of the first data-supported model explaining fuel cell water management, pointing the way to high performance fuel cell membranes.
  • Dramatic improvements in impurity tolerance, allowing the use of fuels other than hydrogen.
  • Development of critical reactor components for fuel processing and clean-up, allowing for greater flexibility in fuels
  • Participation in the first demonstration of gasoline-fed fuel cells.
  • Collaboration with General Motors in the 1990s resulting in the establishment of their own fuel cell program.
  • Developmental support of fuel cell systems and components for industry leaders like W. L. Gore, 3M, and Plug Power, all of whom began their fuel cell work at LANL.

    Principle technologies related to the transportation industry are:
  • PEM fuel cells
  • Reformate fuel cells
  • Fuel processing




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    June 14, 2004