ElectroChem, Inc. Announces the Sale of its PowerStation Ultima™ Fuel Cell Test Equipment to the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras
Leading manufacturer ElectroChem, Inc. announces the sale of its PowerStation Ultima™ Fuel Cell Test Station to the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. The sale strengthens ElectroChem's resolve in further developing new avenues of renewable energy research.
Woburn, Massachusetts (PRWeb) April 24, 2008 -- fuel cell technology company ElectroChem, Inc. announces the sale of its PowerStation Ultima™ Fuel Cell Test Station to the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. The Power Station line of fuel cell test equipment is designed using modular building blocks to provide maximum flexibility for customization, and has a wide selection of carefully designed modules. The sale strengthens ElectroChem, Inc.'s resolve in further developing new avenues of renewable energy research.

ElectroChem is a leading manufacturer and exporter of fuel cell test equipment and stations, and has pioneered bringing computerized testing to the marketplace. The PowerStation line's modules include software controlled electronic load, fuel cell system controller, and gas management systems with built in humidification for both anode and cathode gases. The PowerStation Ultima™ is a premier piece of test equipment on the cutting edge of fuel cell technology, and can be used for qualifying up to five fuel cells simultaneously or independently. With the PowerStation Ultima™, the user can program the individual flow rates, temperatures, and humidification of reactant gases to each fuel cell.

ElectroChem, Inc.'s President and CEO, Radha Jalan, Ph.D., received her MA from the University of Calcutta, India and her doctorate from the University of Florida, Gainesville. A winner of such awards as the MA High Tech Energy Star and Asian Business Woman of the Year. She is proud of the interest shown in the company's technology as shown through the sale to the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, one of the world's leading research institutions. Microsoft founder Bill Gates once said about the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), "Even as an incredibly world-class institution, [the IIT keeps challenging itself to renew itself to move to the forefront. And it is hard to think of anything like IIT anywhere in the world. It is a very unique institution."

"ElectroChem, Inc. has seen a significant interest in our fuel cell testing equipment from both domestic and international research institutions," said Dr. Jalan. "Besides IIT-Madras in India, ElectroChem, Inc. will also be supplying test equipment to Russia, Italy, and Germany, as well as to United States research institutes."

Along with the PowerStation Ultima™, ElectroChem has the largest and most comprehensive fuel cell technology product line on the market, including both standard and custom items for the serious fuel cell researcher and developer. The company itself has been at the forefront of developing innovative technologies, deriving research from attempts to improve the product line.

For more information on the purchase by IIT-Madras, or on the PowerStation Ultima™ line, visit Fuelcell.com.

About ElectroChem, Inc.:

ElectroChem is a pioneering company; bringing predictable high quality fuel cell research to the marketplace as a comprehensive product line. FuelCell.com is ElectroChem's flagship subsidiary, allowing ElectroChem to create a
convenient platform for developers to acquire products they need. With 40 years of experience invested in fuel cell technology and 20 years in product manufacturing and sales, Electrochem is also an owner of many patents, which serve as a testament to ElectroChem's innovative capabilities.

Radha Jalan and ElectroChem, Inc. : Energy for a Clean Planet
ElectroChem, Inc. was a global supplier of fuel cell technology for government and commercial applications. When the founder unexpectedly died in 1992, the firm had not yet achieved profitability and was burdened with a high level of debt. Without any formal technical training or business experience, his wife, Radha Jalan, became president. Her primary challenges included increasing ElectroChem’s market share and reputation, technology development, generating sufficient revenues and cash flows, and securing external sources of capital. This case illustrates some of the challenges faced by a woman entrepreneur as well as issues associated with growth in an emerging market for energy source alternatives.

ElectroChem Awarded New NASA Contract
On November 16th, 2007, ElectroChem, Inc. was awarded a Phase 1, SBIR contract from NASA for its proposal entitled : " Advanced Approaches to Greatly Reduce Hydrogen Gas Crossover Losses in PEM Electrolyzers Operating at High Pressures and Low Current Densities". Work in this contract is based on ElectroChem, Inc.'s innovative IFF (Integrated Flow-Field) structure. Dr. Michael Pien, vice-president of research and development, is the principal investigator.

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT
ElectroChem proposes technology advances in its unique PEM IFF water electrolyzer design to meet the NASA requirement for an electrolyzer that will operate very efficiently both at low current densities and at high pressures. This SBIR effort will develop technical solutions to the draw-back of high pressure operation, namely hydrogen gas crossover losses, that is, an increased diffusion of hydrogen across the membrane which effectively decreases the efficiency.

Two approaches to reducing gas permeation through the membrane at high pressure will be investigated: 1) The use of palladium thin films embedded in the membrane; and 2) The use of Nafion proton conductive polymer-clay nanocomposite blends. Two different bonding approaches and membrane configurations will be used for the first approach. Determining the best composition is the key for the second approach.

Promising candidates will be determined by two tests: 1) hydrogen permeability tests; and 2) proton conduction measurements to assure that the effects of reducing hydrogen permeability will not affect electrochemical proton conduction.

Finally, the most promising candidates will undergo their final Ph I proof of concept tests in a PEM IFF electrochemical cell.

Phase I will lead to the Ph II development of a complete PEM IFF Electrolyzer System and delivery of a demonstration unit to NASA.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
The RFC has long been the leading energy storage candidate for supplying stationary power for the fourteen day/night cycle on the Moon. Of the two major subsystems in the RFC, water electrolyzers are at a lower technology readiness level (TRLs) than primary fuel cells. ElectroChem's proposed technology advance in its unique PEM IFF Water Electrolyzer design will meet the NASA requirement for an electrolyzer that will operate very efficiently both at low current densities and at high pressures. This will result in reduced system weight and volume. In addition, incorporating ElectroChem's advanced water electrolyzer in its unique IFF design will produce a more stable and passive RFC for providing power for Exploration missions at remote locations.

The characteristics of the proposed RFC, containing its advanced PEM Water Electrolyzer design, are ideal for providing UPS backup power for NASA applications, either in space or on earth, and for providing portable power for landers and rovers.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS
For terrestrial applications ElectroChem's PEM IFF Water Electrolyzer is ideal for future auto refueling stations. Also, IFF PEM RFCs, containing the advanced water electrolyzer design, will be strong candidates for supplying power to remote sites with solar and/or off-peak utility power as sources of electrolyzer input power.

Because of difficult maintenance problems, ElectroChem's highly reliable, stable, long life IFF PEM RFC will be an excellent replacement for the lead acid batteries used in Navy Bases. In the Transportation area, advanced RFC systems are being considered for a wide range of vehicles.

For the UPS industry, ElectroChem's advanced RFC has many very unique characteristics that are very attractive to hospitals, telecommunications, and other business activities where down time is critical. Unlike battery power storage systems, the RFC's power and cycle duration are independent, which provides the designer much more freedom in meeting the specific needs of the UPS application, including siting.