US Army CECOM Fuel Cell Program

摘要

Land Warrior power requirements are time phased and each phase requires power densities beyond what battery technology can provide. Chemical hydrogen sources for about 1000 watt-hours per kilogram for small fuel cell systems are planned for demonstration late 2000. A small portable fuel cell prototype is under development for demo in early 2001. If successful, the chemical hydrogen source and the small fuel cell will provide 400 watt-hours in one-kilogram weight. Also under development is a 70 watt direct methanol fuel cell system scheduled for demonstration early 2001. Work is underway to reform a prepackaged fuel for fuel cell application less than 500 watts. Parallel to this effort, the Army is in the first year of a program to develop a reformer at 750 watts per liter for fuel cells larger than 500 watts. The target applications for the larger reformers are within the future combat system including mobile generators.