Rheinmetall Automotive is developing a recirculation fan for hydrogen not yet consumed within fuel cell stacks, as well as coolant pumps for 400 and 800 voltages and electric valves.
Through its subsidiary, Pierburg, the Group has won an order from an unnamed German vehicle manufacture for the electric cathode valves, which will be used in fuel-cell vehicles built by the manufacturer.
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This generation of electric flap systems was developed at the Pierburg site in Berlin and will be used to control fresh and exhaust air mass flows, as well as for tight shut-off of fuel cell stacks.
Production of the vehicles is scheduled to start in 2022.
In view of the broad capacity range of fuel-cell stacks and the resulting air mass requirements, cathode valves with a diameter of up to 57mm were developed in addition to a light all-plastic valve with a weight of 300g and a bore diameter of 25mm.
The cathode valves can provide air volumes of up to 750 kg/hour and absolute charging pressures of up to 400 kPa.
The materials selected and combined for this application guarantee the necessary resistance to hydrogen as well as high-purity water.
The new cathode valve contains an electric-motor drive with reserve power.
On the water-enriched exhaust-air side of the cathode, it offers operational reliability so no functional impairments can occur even in frost conditions.
