An assessment of the current level of automation in the manufacture of fuel cell systems for combined heat and power applications
By: Michael Ulsh, National Renewable Energy Laboratory ; Douglas Wheeler, DJW Technology ; Peter Protopappas, Sentech
Contributors: Wheeler, Douglas J.; Protopappas, Peter; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.); DJW Technology, LLC; Sentech, Inc
Series: NREL/TP -- 5600-52125; NREL/TP -- 5600-52125.
Publisher: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Golden, Colo
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] /
Number of pages: 18
Subjects: Fuel cell industry; Evaluation; Manufacturing processes; Automation
Description: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is interested in supporting manufacturing research and development (R&D) for fuel cell systems in the 10-1,000 kilowatt (kW) power range relevant to stationary and distributed combined heat and power applications, with the intent to reduce manufacturing costs and increase production throughput. To assist in future decision-making, DOE requested that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provide a baseline understanding of the current levels of adoption of automation in manufacturing processes and flow, as well as of continuous processes. NREL identified and visited or interviewed key manufacturers, universities, and laboratories relevant to the study using a standard questionnaire. The questionnaire covered the current level of vertical integration, the importance of quality control developments for automation, the current level of automation and source of automation design, critical balance of plant issues, potential for continuous cell manufacturing, key manufacturing steps or processes that would benefit from DOE support for manufacturing R&D, the potential for cell or stack design changes to support automation, and the relationship between production volume and decisions on automation.
Notes: Title from title screen (viewed on September 12, 2011).

"August 2011."

DE-AC36-08GO28308 2940.2008

Full text available via Internet in .pdf format. Adobe Acrobat Reader required.