Rittal releases modular fuel cell

Rittal has unveiled its ready-to-connect modular fuel cell to supply back-up power supplies for critical processes that demand high availability.

Ricell is available in two different power classes with the larger system supplying cascade power of five, 10, 15 and 20kW.

A smaller version of 300, 600, 900 and 1,200W output fuel cells will soon begin serial production.

The emergency power supply system is integrated into a Rittal 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 filtered ambient air.

The broader operational temperature range of the fuel cell stack, which varies between -33C to +50C, is far less sensitive compared to conventional battery-buffered back-up systems.

Fuel cells use the electro-chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and transform these into electrical energy, water and heat, offering a more environmentally-friendly emergency backup than traditional methods, as the only by-products are water and heat.

Ricell is suitable for various functions within an extensive range of applications, particularly railway technology, transport, power engineering, IT and telecommunications.

For example, the fuel cell can be utilised in tunnels as an emergency back-up generator to safeguard against power supply failures.

Ricell can also be deployed as an alternative power source to safeguard critical processes within power plants or could be utilised as an emergency power backup for network technology or at mobile base stations.

The ready-to-connect fuel cell consumes 16 per cent less hydrogen than previous models of the same output (from 75 to 63 standard litres per minute for the 5kW model).

In standby mode the new Ricells require minimal power.

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