U.S. flag
        An official website of the United States government
          Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you know**Official websites use .gov**
              
              A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
              
              A **lock** (  A locked padlock
) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. https://www.nist.gov/laboratories/tools-instruments/neutron-imaging-facility-nif/nif-hydrogen-systems
  Search NIST
    Search
              Menu

      


Close
    Topics
        All Topics
                                                        Advanced communications
                                                        Artificial intelligence
                                                        Bioscience
                                                        Buildings and construction
                                                        Chemistry
                                                        Climate
                                                        Cybersecurity
                                                        Electronics
                                                        EnergyEnvironment
                                                        Fire
                                                        Forensic science
                                                        Health
                                                        Information technology
                                                        Infrastructure
                                                        Manufacturing
                                                        Materials
                                                        Mathematics and statisticsMetrology
                                                        Nanotechnology
                                                        Neutron research
                                                        Performance excellence
                                                        Physics
                                                        Public safety
                                                        Resilience
                                                        Standards
                                                        Transportation
            Publications
            Labs & Major Programs
        Laboratories
                                Communications Technology Laboratory
                                  Engineering Laboratory
                                  Information Technology Laboratory
                                  Material Measurement Laboratory
                                  Physical Measurement LaboratoryUser Facilities
                                NIST Center for Neutron Research
                                  CNST NanoFab
                                                        Research Test Beds
                                                        Research Projects
                                                        Tools & InstrumentsMajor Programs
                                Baldrige Performance Excellence Program
                                  CHIPS for America Initiative
                                  Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
                                  Office of Advanced Manufacturing
                                  Special Programs Office
                                  Technology Partnerships Office
            Services & Resources
        Standards and Measurements
                                Calibration Services
                                  Laboratory Accreditation (NVLAP)
                                  Quality System
                                  Standard Reference Materials (SRMs)
                                  Standards.gov
                                  Time Services
                                  Office of Weights and MeasuresSoftware
                                                        Data
                                Chemistry WebBook
                                  National Vulnerability Database
                                  Physical Reference Data
                                  Standard Reference Data (SRD)
                                                        Storefront
                                                        License & PatentsComputer Security Resource Center (CSRC)
                                                        NIST Research Library
            News & Events
        News
                                                        Events
                                                        Blogs
                                                        Feature Stories
                                                        AwardsVideo Gallery
                                                        Image Gallery
                                                        Media Contacts
            About NIST
        About Us
                                Leadership
                                  Organization Structure
                                  Budget & Planning
                                                        Contact Us
                                                        Visit
                                                        Careers
                                Student programsWork with NIST
                                                        History
                                NIST Digital Archives
                                  NIST Museum
                                  NIST and the Nobel
                                                        Educational Resources
 
 Physical Measurement Laboratory
    
      
  Neutron Imaging Facility (NIF)
                            Expand or Collapse
          NIF - Applying for Beam Time
                      NIF - Facility Features
                      NIF - Hydrogen Economy and Storage
                      NIF - Hydrogen Systems
                      NIF - Neutron Camera
                      NIF - Neutron Tomography (3-D imaging)
                      NIF - PEM Fuel Cells
                      NIF - RadiographyNIF - Hydrogen Systems

Share
  Facebook
                      Linkedin
                      Twitter
                      Email

NIF Fuel Cell Infrastructure

      NIST NIF fuel cell test standThe NIST NIF provides users with complete, state of the art PEFC control and testing infrastructure. Available for general use are a fuel cell test stand, a sample environment chamber, a hydrogen generator, as well as supplies of other gases, chilled house water, and Type I deionized water. The fuel cell test stand is the most important component of NIF infrastructure. The stand controls all aspects of the fuel cell’s operation, and can simulate the demands that the fuel cell would experience while powering an automobile. The NIST NIF stand was custom-built to allow users to control the humidity, pressure, flow rate, temperature and gas composition of the fuel gases entering the fuel cell.

The sample environment chamber will allow users to operate a fuel cell in real world conditions, such as International Falls, MN at midnight in January, or August in Mobile, AL. The chamber will be able to control the ambient temperature from -40 °C to 50 °C (-40 °F to 125 °F) as well as the relative humidity from 15 % to 90 %. The chamber will accommodate commercial grade fuel cells and will have cooling capacity of about 1 kW at -40 °C. We expect to have the environmental chamber available for use by late summer 2006.

      Sample area in the neutron beamThe interior of the NIF has been specifically designed to accommodate fuel cell. Standard 50 cm2 fuel cell as well as much larger samples readily fit in the standard sample area. In addition, the large floor plan of the sample allows users to bring additional equipment closer to the fuel cell. The center of the beam is 42 in above the floor. There is about 10 ft on either side of the sample position.

NIST NIF Fuel Cell Test Stand

***State of the art, custom-built, PEFC test stand***
	Flow control over H2, Air, N2, He, O2 with accuracy of 1 % full scale:
	H2: 0-500 and 0-3000 sccm
		N2: 0-2000 sccm
		Air: 0-100, 0-500, 0-2000, 0-8000 sccm
		O2: 0-500, 0-5000 sccm
		He: 0-600, 0-6000 sccm
	Users can create custom gas mixtures for anode and cathode in the stand
	Measurement of high current densities with boost power supply allowing voltage control of the cell to a minimum of 0.01 V
	Heated Inlet gas lines
	Built-in humidification of anode and cathode gas streams for all flow rates
	Graphical User Interface
	Logs and stores files of all cell parameters during operation
	Multiple thermocouple inputs
	Interfaced with facility hydrogen safety system
	All users of the NIST NIF have access to the stand
  Radiation

    
    Contacts
      
        

Daniel S. Hussey
    
      
  daniel.hussey@nist.gov
  (301) 975-6465

  David L. Jacobson
    
      
  david.jacobson@nist.gov
  (301) 975-6207

  

Eli Baltic
    
      
  eli.baltic@nist.gov
  (301) 975-4842

Created October 5, 2016, Updated April 12, 2021 ‹ NIF - Hydrogen Economy and Storage
              NIF - Neutron Camera ›
 HEADQUARTERS
            100 Bureau Drive
              Gaithersburg, MD 20899301-975-2000
            Webmaster | Contact Us | Our Other Offices
        Twitter
            
Facebook
            
LinkedIn
            
Instagram
            
YouTube
            
Giphy
            
RSS Feed
            
Mailing List
                              How are we doing? Feedback

  
  Site Privacy
                      Accessibility
                      Privacy Program
                      Copyrights
                      Vulnerability Disclosure
                      No Fear Act Policy
                      FOIA
                      Environmental Policy
                      Scientific Integrity
                      Information Quality Standards
                      Commerce.gov
                      Science.gov
                      USA.gov
                      Vote.gov