Pilot Line 5

Semi-Automated Catalyst-Coated Membrane (CCM) Manufacturing and Short Stack Assembly Line for AEM Electrolysis

Overview

Pilot line 5 has been designed, constructed and commissioned through a close collaboration between the partners Mondragon Assembly and Tecnalia. It allows the user to fully manufacture an AEM short stack and has two main functionalities: being MEA (CCM and CCS) manufacturing and short-stack assembly.  The MEA manufacturing functionality consisting of stations for each process i.e.  membrane coating with the catalyst, drying, turning, and in-line characterization. For assembly, the manufactured components are placed in a tray in the pilot line, and the other stack components are also placed in their own tray. This allows the robot arm to perform automated assembly of short stacks by taking each component from its tray and stacking them in the stacking station. This assembly pilot line allows the user to advance towards automatized serial production of AEM stacks with the required quality, essential for reducing CAPEX of AEM technology and therefore reducing the LCOH for renewable hydrogen.

  • Advanced Manufacturing: MEA Manufacturing and Short Stack Assembly Line for AEM Electrolysis
  • Scalability: The scale of the CCMs and the stacks was initially set at 10×10 cm2 active area, but with the capacity to scale up to 30×30 cm2 active area after minor modifications of the tools.
  • Precision Testing: N/A
  • Material Innovation: N/A
  • For Industry: Reduced manufacturing time of high-quality AEM stacks.
  • Cost Efficiency: Automatization of the MEA manufacturing and stack assembly will reduce costs.
  • Performance: In-line quality controls will strongly reduce faulty products, reducing the users’ operating costs.

Max. active area of membranes: 30 x 30 cm2

Max. number of cells: stack up to 50 cm high

Features: 

  • Membrane coating  
  • Drying 
  • In-line characterization 
  • MEA and short stack assembly

Coating thickness of 10 µm-100 µm 

Homogeneity in the coating thickness < 5%

Gallery

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