FACILITIES

The Schatz Fuel Cell Laboratory
The Schatz Energy Research Center on the Humboldt State University campus is one of the foremost fuel cell development laboratories. We design, fabricate, and test fuel cells and integrate fuel cell stacks into power systems for a variety of uses: small, portable remote power systems for locations far from the electric grid, vehicle power systems, and education/demonstration packages. SERC's fuel cell systems have proven to be among the most reliable and efficient in the world.

At SERC's fuel cell laboratory creativity is our biggest asset. We have developed and patented (go to Patents page) a low-pressure design that yields a high net system efficiency. We are finding new ways to reduce the volume and weight of our systems and to simplify their design. Our fuel cell stacks are engineered to withstand extreme environmental conditions. They have operated successfully in the heat of Palm Desert, California, and in the cold of Fairbanks, Alaska.

SERC's Fuel Cell Laboratory is equipped with four test stations and one multi-station test stand used to develop and test PEM fuel cells and related subsystems. Each test station is custom designed and built in-house. Each of the four test stations' data acquisition and control system provides for up to 64 analog inputs, 32 digital inputs-outputs, and 6 analog outputs.

The multi-station test stand allows the simultaneous testing of up to four fuel cells under tightly controlled and repeatable conditions. Each station is capable of testing a fuel cell at up to 225 Watts at stack temperatures up to 65°C. A single computer controls and monitors all four stations via backplanes supporting digital and analog inputs and outputs.

SERC developed software 1) displays current system data, 2) records operational data in several different selectable formats, 3) controls the air, hydrogen, water, power conditioning subsystems, and the electronic load, and 4) automatically shuts down the system if fire, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, or other hazardous conditions are detected.

 

The Schatz Solar Hydrogen Project
The Schatz Solar Hydrogen Project was initiated in the fall of 1989, with the goal of demonstrating that solar hydrogen is a reliable and abundant energy source that is ready for use today. Located about 15 miles north of SERC's main facility, this full-time, automatic energy system takes advantage of the solar hydrogen cycle to power the air compressor that aerates the aquaria at Humboldt State University's Telonicher Marine Laboratory in Trinidad, California.