 The TEA Project has already been responsible for the construction of a pilot-plant for the serial production of fuel cells with gas diffusion electrodes
This new generation of electrodes, the result of a revolutionary technique of platinum coating, has lower costs compared to those of more advanced products now on the market. The pilot-plant's radical innovations affect the technological production process of such components, with consequent lowering of costs and overheads, whilst at the same time guaranteeing a high-quality finished product.
The gas diffusion electrodes can be used in the electrical and thermal energy production sectors, having a low environmental impact in that they make up the principal element of the fuel cells. During the development of the project, research was carried out to optimise the plant, taking into account both the methodological preparation of the electrodes in gas diffusion and the technological automatism of production. This research has meant that the project is being continuously updated and the plant duly re-configured.
The Advanced Electrochemical Technology Project TEA Project has been 50% financed by the regional government of Sicily (as part of their 1994-1999 POP), with the other 50% coming from Ponte di Archimede International S.p.A. and the Messina CNR-ITAE Institute, with a total investment of 500 000 Euro. The project is aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of an automatic plant for the production of polymeric electrodes for fuel cells at competitive costs.
The TEA Project began in March 1999 and has aimed to diffuse innovative technology in the preparation of electrodes in gas diffusion and new concepts developed by the CNR-ITAE Institute as part of a number of research programs into the use of fuel cells. The experimental plant has introduced radical innovations in both manufacture (until now never produced at an industrial level) and technological production processes.
Description of the Plant
The TEA plant has two separate automated lines, the first aimed at deposition the diffusive level, the second that of the catalytic layer.
Both lines consist of:
-A driving mechanism to move the electrodes, consisting of a belt activated by appropriate hauling rollers with variable speeds;
-A warehouse and distribution plant that contains tanks of appropriate dimensions to contain the suspension, a siphon feeding system of spraying heads, and all other necessary accessories.
-Cylinders that are calibrated for thickness, conducted by a system of presser rollers.
-A tunnel-shaped oven, having several thermal rooms operating at different temperatures, equipped with electrical resistance and power controlled fans.
-A control panel with the components necessary to manage automatically each of the two lines
This project is carriyng out in collaboration with the National Council of Researches.
|
