Fuel cells for outdoor applications

Rittal –
Fuel cell technology
Stand-alone power supply solution
for outdoor applications with fuel cells

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Fuel cells for outdoor applications –
stand-alone and powerful
Reliable redundancies in the form of emergency power supply systems must be established in critical applications demanding
high-availability. From the field of cellular phones via telematics and remote measuring stations through to the primary energy
source for information kiosk systems and applications at open-air events – for all these the fuel cell represents the convincing
“energy supplier”. Here Rittal with its expertise and know-how in the fields of outdoor building technology, climate control and
system integration can supply complete solutions.
Outdoor applications:
• The Rittal fuel cell in the Toptec CR outdoor enclosure is a full-function emergency power supply unit for outdoor use that is
combined with the primary supply systems of well-known manufacturers. The Rittal solution has clear advantages over batterybuffered
systems in respect of service life, permissible temperature variations, back-up times and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership).
• The ITS Out-Line Pro terminal as a point-of-information kiosk is completely self-sufficient; no energy-supplying network is
required. The hydrogen supply system is integrated directly in the terminal. The innovative reformer technology converts
methanol into hydrogen and ensures that the unit can be operated for long periods without maintenance.
How a fuel cell works
Fuel cells convert the chemical energy
arising from the reaction between
hydrogen (H 2) and oxygen (O 2)
directly into electrical energy, water
and heat.
• A fuel cell essentially consists of
two electrodes separated from
each other by an electrolyte.
• At one electrode, the hydrogen is
separated into positively charged
protons and negatively charged
electrons.
• At the oxygen electrode, oxygen
molecules (O 2) are dissociated
Reliable emergency power supply
system for outdoor applications
The emergency power supply system
is fully integrated into the Toptec CR
climate-controlled enclosure and may be
supplied with hydrogen directly at the
place of installation. The oxygen required
by the system is obtained from the filtered
ambient air. The broader temperature
range of the fuel cell stack compared
with conventional, battery-buffered backup
systems is a major advantage, since
batteries require constant temperatures
inside the enclosure.
(separated) and are able to absorb
electrons at the electrode.
• The hydrogen ions pass through
the electrolyte to the positive
electrode where they react with
the oxygen ions to form water.
• The two electrodes are connected
to one another via an external load
so that an electric current flows.
The flow of current is supplied
directly by converting a significant
portion of the chemical energy
from hydrogen and oxygen into
electrical energy.
Other benefits include:
• Freely scalable autonomy, by adapting
the volume of hydrogen stored at the
site. In this way, individual back-up
times may be achieved very easily for
each installation site.
• A substantially longer service life than
batteries – the total service life of the
plant in this mode of operation is
approximately 10 years.
• Minimal servicing and maintenance
requirements for the emergency backup
supply.
The combined benefits of the Rittal fuel
cell compared with battery buffered
back-up power supplies translate into a
reduced total cost of ownership.

Toptec CR
with fuel cell as emergency power supply unit
Application:
Outdoor emergency power supply unit, e.g. for cellular phone
base stations
Material:
Enclosure frame: stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)
Door, side panels, air-conditioning hood, roof: aluminium AlMg3,
powder coated in RAL 7035
Supply includes:
Ready-to-connect fuel cell system including climate control.
The hydrogen supply is not included.
On request:
• Cascadable, up to 3 systems
• Non-standard input / output voltage
• Use as primary supply unit (not for continuous 24 h operation)
• Reformer system, e.g. feeding-in of methanol instead of
hydrogen
• Housing for gas cylinders
• Further protocols: S-bus, Profibus, Modbus, MPI, EIB, LON,
Bac Net, GENIbus
Width (B) mm 694 694
Height (H) mm 1403 1403
Depth (T1) mm 675 675
Overall depth (T2) mm 992 992
Weight (kg) 175 182
Model No. CS 9782.030 9782.050
Fuel cell
Output scalable up to 3000 W 5000 W
Rated voltage, input 230 V, 50/60 Hz 230 V, 50/60 Hz
Voltage, output – 48 V DC (– 46 V DC to – 54 V DC) – 48 V DC (– 46 V DC to – 54 V DC)
Max. power failure 0.005 seconds 0.005 seconds
Noise (at full load and approx. 60 dB (A) approx. 60 dB (A)
high ambient temperature)
Hydrogen supply
Gas type Hydrogen, purity at least 3.5 Hydrogen, purity at least 3.5
Recommended supply 50 litre or 10 litre bottles, 200 bar 50 litre or 10 litre bottles, 200 bar
Consumption at full load 45 slpm (standard litres per minute) 75 slpm (standard litres per minute)
Freely scalable via manifolds, 50 l, 200 bar hydrogen Freely scalable via manifolds, 50 l, 200 bar hydrogen
Stored energy time produces approx. 10 kW output, i.e. with 3 kW produces approx. 10 kW output, i.e. with 5 kW
full load, this means an autonomy of 3.5 hours full load, this means an autonomy of 2 hours
Replacement of gas bottles Whilst the system is operational (hot swap) Whilst the system is operational (hot swap)
Ambient conditions
Temperature range – 33 °C to + 50 °C – 33 °C to + 50 °C
Relative humidity 0 % to 95 %, no condensation 0 % to 95 %, no condensation
Height above mean sea level 0 to 2000 m 0 to 2000 m
Monitoring
Interface Ethernet-IP Ethernet-IP
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ITS Out-Line Pro
with fuel cell as primary supply unit
T2
T1
The kiosk can be put to use anywhere
where visitors from around the
world must be provided with information,
e.g. at exhibitions, festivals and
sporting events. With the fuel cell
power supply you need absolutely no
link to the mains. Thus the POI kiosk
can be put into operation in the very
shortest time. The complete unit
including the fuel supply is integrated
in the outdoor enclosure.
Fax hotline +49(0)2772 505-70101
B
Methanol is converted into hydrogen
with the aid of the reformer technology
whereby the high amount of hydrogen
contained in the methanol
permits long operating times. Thanks
to its double-wall design, the outdoor
enclosure – which is both robust and
attractive – offers further advantages
such as protection against vandalism,
noise-reduced PC systems and
a wide permissible ambient temperature
range.
Application Primary supply
ITS Out-Line Pro
Enclosure (WxHxD) 650 x 2000 x 400 mm
1000 x 2400 x 1000 mm, including roof
Material Aluminium, powder-coated in
RAL 9007 or RAL 7035
Piping: stainless steel
Interior installation ITS PC system “silent” or “Pro II”,
touch-screen, stainless steel or
membrane keyboard
Fuel cell
Output 250 W
Rated voltage
(output) – 12 V DC
Supply
Reformer Methanol/water mix (65% / 35%)
Permissible ambient conditions
Temperature range – 33 °C to + 50 °C
Rel. air humidity 0 % to 95 %, no condensation
Please send me: IT News 2006 Catalogue 31
Name, Surname
Company
Department
Address
Telephone/Fax
E-mail
Date, signature
Rittal GmbH & Co. KG • Postfach 1662 • D-35726 Herborn
Telephone: +49(0)2772 505-0 • Telefax: +49(0)2772 505-2319 • eMail: info@rittal.de • www.rittal.com
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03/06 · E660