Fuel Cell Research Lab (FCReL)

Simon Fraser University, Surrey, British Columbia
What the facility does

Engineering-oriented research on fuel cells and other electrochemical energy technologies.

Areas of expertise

At the Fuel Cell Research Lab (FCReL), our mission is to support the industrial development of fuel cells and other electrochemical energy technologies with high performance, high durability, and low cost. Our feature research on hydrogen polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) focuses on enhancing the durability and reliability of the membrane electrode assembly. Our facilities are customized with state-of-the-art equipment and capabilities for in situ and ex situ testing, characterization, analysis, and modelling of fuel cell and battery materials, components, devices, and systems.

Research services

Fuel cell and battery testing and diagnostics, material characterization, mechanical property measurements, dynamic mechanical analysis, rapid mechanical durability evaluation, porosimetry analysis, gas sorption and surface area measurements, hydrogen storage capacity measurements, dynamic contact angle and surface free energy measurements, microfluidics experimentation, failure analysis, nanomaterial synthesis, fabrication of membrane electrode assemblies, microfabrication, computational modelling of electrochemical devices, advanced lifecycle assessment of vehicles.

Sectors of application
  • Automotive
  • Chemical industries
  • Clean technology
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Transportation

Equipment

Function

Greenlight Innovation’s G40 Fuel Cell Test Station

Automated performance and durability testing and diagnostics of fuel cells

Greenlight Innovation’s G20 Fuel Cell Test Station

Automated performance and durability testing and diagnostics of fuel cells 

Greenlight Innovation’s Flow Battery Test Station

Automated performance and durability testing and diagnostics of redox flow batteries

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) with environmental chamber

Mechanical property measurements and dynamic mechanical analysis under controlled temperature and relative humidity

Porosimeter

Advanced characterization of porous materials using the Method of Standard Porosimetery (MSP)

Force tensiometer

Measurement of dynamic contact angle, surface/interfacial tension, absorption profiles, and powder wettability

Gas sorption measurement apparatus

Volumetric gas sorption measurements, designed for hydrogen

Tube furnace

Two-foot tube furnace with gas/vacuum system, programmable, max temperature of 1200C

Muffle furnace

High-temperature furnace, programmable, max temperature of 1200C

Centrifuge

Max volume: 1.6L, rotations up to 16000 rpm

Gamry Reference 3000 Potentiostat

Electrochemical analysis, including potentiostatic, galvanostatic, and impedance measurements with up to 4 channels

ZEISS Xradia 520 Versa Micro X-ray Computed Tomography

3D non-destructive material characterization and inspection (<700nm spatial resolution)

ZEISS Xradia 810 Ultra Nano X-ray Computed Tomography

3D non-destructive material characterization and inspection (<50nm spatial resolution)
  • Ballard Power Systems Inc.
  • Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation
  • Mercedes-Benz Canada
  • City of Surrey
  • Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
  • Hydrogen In Motion Inc.

Title

URL

The Power of Seeing: CT scans unlock secrets to making longer lasting fuel cells

http://www.apc-pac.ca/About-Renseignements/Project-Project_eng.asp?ID=33

SFU Gives Ballard Fuel-Cells a Boost

http://www.bcbusiness.ca/manufacturing-transport/sfu-gives-ballard-fuel-cells-a-boost