ISRO successfully tests Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell on PSLV-C58’s orbital platform POEM3

ISRO successfully tests Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell on PSLV-C58’s orbital platform POEM3

Subject: Science and Tech

Section: Space tech

Context:

India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has celebrated a significant achievement of a successful flight test of a fuel cell intended for space use.

More on news:

• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre/ISRO conducted this test of assessing a 100 W class Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell based Power System (FCPS) within its orbital platform POEM3.
• Throughout the test duration, an impressive 180 W of power was generated from Hydrogen and Oxygen gasses stored in high-pressure vessels.

Objective of the Experiment:

The objective is to assess Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel cell operation in space and to collect data to facilitate the design of systems for future missions.

Hydrogen fuel cell:

• Hydrogen fuel cells function by directly converting Hydrogen and Oxygen gasses into electricity, water, and heat, employing electrochemical principles.
• The capacity to generate electricity directly from fuels without intermediate steps, these fuel cells boast exceptional efficiency.
• Their emission-free nature, producing only water as a byproduct, positions them as ideal candidates for human-involved space missions, meeting critical requirements like electric power, water, and heat through a single system.
• It is considered an optimal solution to replace current vehicle engines and power standby systems.
• These cells boast equivalent range and fuel recharge times compared to conventional engines, offering a substantial advantage over batteries while promoting emission-free transportation.

Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell:

• Proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are known as polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
• PEMFCs generate electricity and operate on the opposite principle to PEM electrolysis, which consumes electricity.
• They use a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte.
• Hydrogen is typically used as the fuel.
• It is a type of fuel cell being developed mainly for transport applications, as well as for stationary fuel-cell applications and portable fuel-cell applications.

About POEM:

The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module(POEM) is a platform that will help perform in-orbit experiments using the final, and otherwise discarded, stage of ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The PSLV is a four-stage rocket where the first three spent stages fall back into the ocean, and the final stage (PS4) after launching the satellite into orbit ends up as space junk.

POEM has a dedicated Navigation Guidance and Control (NGC) system for attitude stabilization, which stands for controlling the orientation of any aerospace vehicle within permitted limits.

POEM will derive its power from solar panels mounted around the PS4 tank, and a Li-Ion battery.