2011 R&D 100 Winner
The Cryo-Force Power-Cell System, an integrated, closed-loop liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system, has been designed to help unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) transition away from large-battery and fossil fuel technologies. Originally developed for the military to boost force efficiency, the system has been further developed for other markets by Sierra Lobo Inc., Milan, Ohio, the Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR), Arlington, Va., and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, R.I.
The cryogenic liquid reactants (oxygen and hydrogen) are stored in separate dewars and are then vaporized using the electrical power produced by the fuel cell to maintain each tank pressure at approximately 50 psia. Now gaseous, the reactants are further heated to 50 to 60 C using waste heat within the fuel cell and then humidified using water produced within the stack. The humidified oxygen and hydrogen reactants then enter the fuel cell to provide propulsive power. By-product water is removed with mechanical compressors.
The significant technological advancement is the integration of cryogenic pure reactants with a fuel cell system while meeting U.S. Navy specifications of storing 50 kg of oxygen and delivering 0.1 to 100 g/min of oxygen to support a 10 kW fuel cell system.
Technology
Closed-loop fuel cell power system
Developers
Sierra Lobo Inc.
Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
The Cryo-Force Power-Cell System Development Team
Bradley N. Stoops, Principal Developer, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Michelle Anderson, Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Scott Baaske, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Eric Dow, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Joseph Fontaine, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Mark Haberbusch, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Steve Hockenberry, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Michael Hoffman, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Terry Hui, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Vince Jones, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Maria Medeiros, Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Chnih Nguyen, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Stan Polhemus, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Ray Roberts, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Marty Roth, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Tony Skaff, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Robert Stochl, Sierra Lobo Inc.
David Troike, Sierra Lobo Inc.
Eric Warner, Naval Undersea Warfare Center
