Environment & Energy

[font face=Serif]April 12, 2013

[font size=5]Regenerative Fuel Cells, Energy Storage Systems Being Developed for Space Applications[/font]


Thomas Valdez, senior member, engineering staff and Fuel Cell Group lead at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, speaks on Regenerative Fuel Cells, Energy Storage Systems for Space Applications as part of the Von Kármán Lecture on April 11, 2013.
Credits: NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Television

[font size=3]During a live talk on fuel cell applications in space, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Thomas Valdez described development of regenerative fuel cell systems at NASA as part of the Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series on April 11, 2013. His talk provides an introduction to fuel cells and regenerative fuel cell systems, discussing how their increased storage capacity can be used in future NASA missions to the moon, near-Earth asteroids and Mars.

A recent thrust in the development of regenerative fuel cell systems has been led by NASA. Regenerative fuel cell systems provide energy storage at a scale that is larger than what is practical with advanced batteries.

In a regenerative fuel cell system, energy storage is achieved via the electrolysis of water to hydrogen and oxygen gas during the storage phase. Consumption of gases then occurs during the energy generation phase, with the subsequent generation of water.

It is envisioned that the energy for the electrolysis of water be supplied via solar power. The regenerative fuel cell systems can be used to power robots, mobility systems, and human habitats. This talk will provide an introduction of fuel cells and regenerative fuel cell systems and highlight the features of this technology for enabling future NASA missions to the moon, near-Earth asteroids and Mars.

Last Updated: July 31, 2015
Editor: Bob Granath[/font][/font]