Infinity Fuel Cell Delivers Prototype to NASA for Lunar Energy Storage System
Key Ideas
- Infinity Fuel Cell delivered a prototype fuel cell to NASA for ground testing in a regenerative energy storage system for potential lunar applications.
- The fuel cell passed an initial 500-hour life test and will undergo further testing at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
- Infinity's APWR fuel cell features patented technology for passive water management in microgravity and operation in space, enhancing reliability for future missions.
- The company has also conducted successful tests on shock, vibration, and thermal vacuum compatibility, including a flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard sub-orbital mission.
Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. has announced the delivery of a prototype fuel cell to NASA for ground testing as part of a regenerative energy storage system intended for potential lunar applications. This initiative falls under NASA's Game Changing Development Regenerative Fuel Cell project. The fuel cell successfully passed a 500-hour life test milestone and has been transferred to NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland for further testing. Infinity has developed the APWR fuel cell, which incorporates patented features allowing passive water management in microgravity and operation in space, thereby increasing reliability for missions to the moon and on the lunar surface.
The company has fabricated a second test article for extended NASA-supported testing, which is set to begin soon and will involve 5,000 hours of operation, with the option to extend testing beyond 10,000 hours. Infinity's CEO and founder, William Smith, expressed the significance of this milestone in advancing fuel cell technology for potential NASA missions.
Prior to this achievement, Infinity had conducted flight validation under a separate NASA sponsored Tipping Point effort. The APWR was tested in an Advanced Module Power and Energy System design for shock, vibration, and thermal vacuum compatibility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. Furthermore, the fuel cell's operation was validated during a successful suborbital flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard mission NS-24 in December 2023.
Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc., established in 2002, specializes in designing and manufacturing air-independent electrochemical systems, including fuel cell systems for space and underwater applications. The company is also involved in developing electrolysis technologies capable of producing hydrogen and oxygen directly at high pressures. For more information, individuals can reach out to Mr. Richard Mullins at rmullins@infinityfuel.com, or through the company's contact numbers.