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A3-PROJECTS
A3 | A3 – Austrian Advanced Automotive Technology | A3 – 1 st Call (2002)
QUANT-B
Qualification and training of teachers and skilled staff in the area of new technologies > Fuel cells and high power batteries
The next step in the project was to install a demonstration fuel cell system at ECHEM.
In parallel to the theoretical background, this system provides practical training for both
schools and companies, using experiments and simulations.
In the first phase, the content requirement of units of training – structured as modules
– for „fuel-cell relevant” types of schools, colleges and universities was evaluated in
close cooperation with the PRO-BZ („Programme for the development of fuel cell
expertise”) project. Using this information, model training programmes were prepared.
The importance of each individual module was assessed depending on the needs of
the different target groups in the education sector and in companies.
Different workshop concepts to implement these model training programmes were
prepared for „high-performance and traction batteries” and „fuel cell technology”.
The workshop on „high-performance and traction batteries” gives an overview of
important concepts relating to batteries and accumulators, as well as examining their
technical design, the chemical processes taking place, their possible applications, and
the charging/discharging techniques for the most important systems. The safety
measures needed when maintaining, repairing or using battery systems are also dealt
with, while an overview is given of relevant literature and (school) experiments.
The presentation of the necessary physical chemistry principles, an overview of the
different types of fuel cells and their applications, as well as the historical development
of fuel cells were included in the „fuel cells” workshop documentation. General
background information on the concepts of „energy” and „electrical energy” was also
included. In the next steps, the challenges related to establishing fuel cell technology
and a hydrogen infrastructure, i.e. its storage and handling, will be elaborated.
The QUANT-B project began with a needs
assessment, with target groups for this
assessment being the education sector in
Austria (intermediate and higher-level
vocational schools, secondary schools,
specialist colleges and universities) and
companies. The assessment identified an
increasing demand for continuing education
in the field of fuel cell technology. 83% of the
teaching staff and 90% of the pupils
questioned agreed with the need for
continuing education; in the case of specialist
colleges and universities, the percentages
were 42% for the teaching staff and 67% for
the students. At the companies, 79% of those
questioned recognised the need for
continuing education in the field.
Project management:
ECHEM – Center of Competence
in Applied Electrochemistry
Project partner:
Vienna University of Technology –
Institute for Chemical
Technologies and Analytic / EC
164, CATT Innovation
Management GmbH
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