Fuel
Cell Powered Segway™ Project Summary The fuel cell and stored hydrogen fuel approximately doubles the Segway's range by recharging the batteries and providing power to the traction motors during operation. Various other components, designed, assembled and integrated by CTC, are required to control the fuel cell, manage the power delivered to the Segway, and maintain the fuel cell's performance between operations. The fuel cell system enclosure replaced the right baggage compartment and contains the fuel cell, three DC/DC power converters, current and voltage monitoring on two custom designed I/O boards connected to a basic stamp controller, a small air compressor, two solenoid valves, and custom designed cathode air valves that retain moisture in the stack between operations. A two-liter hydrogen bottle is stowed behind the front cargo bag. The fuel cell system and hydrogen storage adds only 32 pounds to the Segway leaving 43 pounds of cargo capacity. The project's primary goal is to demonstrate a less than one (1) kW fuel cell application. CTC is an independent, nonprofit applied research and development professional services organization that provides management and technology-based solutions to a wide array of clients representing state and federal government as well as the private sector. Established in 1988, CTC operates from 34 locations throughout the United States with a staff of over 1,200 employees. The DoD's Fuel Cell Test and
Evaluation Center is a National Resource facility for the independent,
unbiased testing and validation of fuel cell systems for both military
and commercial applications. Located at CTC's Environmental Technology
Facility, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the FCTec was established
through a collaborative effort between CTC and the U.S. Army
Engineer Research and Development Center's Construction Engineering Research
Laboratory (ERDC/CERL). ERDC/CERL is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'
R&D organization. The FCTec's primary goal is to significantly
accelerate the development and commercialization of fuel cell systems.
Points of Contact: Dr. Mike Binder
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