Use of BMS Validation Test Stand for Fuel Cell Management System Testing

Here at DMC, we do a considerable amount of work for manufacturers and test laboratories who specialize in lithium ion batteries, fuel cells, and other cutting edge energy generation and storage technologies. This work has fueled the development of many different test and measurement platforms, some more generic and others specifically designed to exacting client requirements. To read more about these systems, check out the following case studies:

• Hydrogen Fuel Cell Customizable Test Platform
• Smart Battery Pack Manufacturing Test
• Hybrid Electric Vehicle Battery Test System
• Battery Pack Monitor System for Environmental Testing

Lithium battery packs and hydrogen fuel cell stacks are two of many promising emerging technologies for future energy needs. They also share another important design characteristic: both provide high voltages by stacking together multiple cells. While this method of stacking does provide the required voltage output for applications such as HEV automobiles, it also requires precise monitoring and control to ensure that each of the individual cells remains within a standard operating range. Battery packs accomplish this control using a Battery Management System (BMS).

DMC has partnered with Pickering Interfaces to design a system which allows the simulation of a battery pack down to the individual battery cells and helps vendors to develop, test, and validate these complicated control systems with greater efficiency. While Fuel Cell Management systems are more complex and require additional control (i.e. fuel, oxidant, and coolant flows, along with thermal regulation), their development still requires the simulation of the fuel cell stack and its numerous individual current producing cells. To read more about this new system and learn about the benefits it provides to developers of management systems check out Battery Management System (BMS) Validation Test Stand.