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Mahle brings a modular filter concept for the fuel cell
Mahle has developed two standardized air filter solutions for fuel cells. Thanks to this modular approach, development times and costs should be significantly reduced.
Mahle brings a modular filter concept for the fuel cell
“Mahle has broad expertise in air filtration, which today benefits us in the development and production of reliable filter solutions for fuel cell vehicles,” explains Martin Berger, head of central research and advance development at Mahle. “By making the design of the air line easier, faster and cheaper with our new standardized approach, we are giving this future technology a noticeable boost towards suitability for large-scale production.”
Protection for highly sensitive cells minimizes manufacturing costs
Fuel cells contain platinum as a catalyst. With its help, hydrogen and oxygen are converted into water, and the reaction energy becomes available as electrical energy. The fewer harmful gases that enter the cell, the less platinum is required to ensure operation over the entire lifespan of a vehicle. Platinum is rare and expensive - supply air with a higher degree of purity thanks to efficient filters means lower production costs. In order to reliably protect fuel cells and thus make them attractive to consumers in terms of price, Mahle relies on a highly effective filter medium made up of several layers: a carrier material ensures mechanical stability, and a particle filter layer separates 99.9 percent of unwanted particles. A molecular layer prevents ammonia from entering the fuel cell, an activated carbon layer absorbs unwanted hydrocarbons, and another activated carbon layer with special impregnation prevents the entry of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and nitrogen oxides.
Components for fuel cells based on the modular principle
Mahle supports the development of vehicles with fuel cell drives suitable for large-scale production through its overall system expertise in the areas of thermal and air management, power electronics and filtration. The focus is on lower system costs with higher operational reliability. Based on the current program of components, Mahle is developing a fuel cell system portfolio with a modular approach. In this way, technological hurdles are reduced and a targeted contribution is made to the suitability of vehicles with fuel cell drives for large-scale production.