7 products found

Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) products

Debinding Oven

Die casting of ceramics and metal (PIM and CIM) is a fast growing production technology to produce complex products relatively simpel and cheap. ECN has, together with the former National Ceramics Atelier, contributed strongly to the development and distribution of this technology. The removal - heating out or debinding - of the synthetic material which is being used as a binder to mold products in a mould, is the most important quality determining step in the process. A good method is catalytic "cracking" of the polymer to remove it fast and without damaging the product. ECN has developed a controlled oven in which, with a dosingpump, minimal quantities of nitric acid are being added.

Catalysis Testing Equipment

For the development of advanced catalysts, for the benefit of fuel processing, amongst other things, an extremely accurate parallel flow reactor has been developed. The testing of activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts must be carried out under isotherm conditions and on a scale in which no mass transport limits can occur. This work is done in a socalled microflow setup. Over a small amount of catalyst (0.1-0.3g) a gas mixture is been lead of which either the conversion degree is being determined as a function of the temperature, or the stability of this conversion degree is being determined at a constant temperature and gas composition as a function of time. In general, synthetic gas mixtures are being used, which are representative for the gas mixture at which the catalyst in the real application is being exposed.

Microplasmaspraying System

Microplasma Spraying allows many materials to be applied to almost every surface. This system, MPSS, sprays with a small spot (1-2 mm2). ECN has develloped a Micro Plasma Spraying System (MPSS) for the: Spraying on plastics: Aluminium bands sprayed on glas fibre reinforced plastic. Thickness up to 0.5 mm.

Fuel Cell Voltage Monitoring System

A security system for a stackable fuel cell, with which 40 cell voltages, at the most, can be measured. Working: For experiments, carried out with fuel cells (stacks), it is necessary to measure all cell voltages; in case one of the cell voltages decreases below a certain level, the supervisory system has to be able to intervene, based on this information. In case one of the cell voltages gets too low, two "relais" exits will be de-activated (= open circuit). Depending on the setpoint of two, in advance, tuned tension values, either the "warning" exit or the "fatal" exit will be activated. By this, the cell or stack can be switched off or disconnected from the electrical load (ofcourse through a therefore suitable powerswitch).

DC/DC Invertor

Fuel cells supply, with the increase of power, a lower voltage. This means, that the electrical behavior is strongly dependant on the operating conditions. When fuel cells are used as a power source in vehicles, this is unwanted behavior. Therefore, a solid voltage has to be offered to the electro engine to, for example, realise an independant speed regulation. Also, the fuel cell has to operate in the optimal workpoint of the cell. For this, an electronic power converter is realised, which, at the entrance, fuel cell side, lets an automatic adjustment of the electrical load at the voltage- and power graphic of the cell take place towards the optimal work point. At the same time, at the exit, engine side, the converter adjusts to the to be transported power within the allowed voltage tolerance of, for example, the electro engine.

High Voltage Generators

Development and building of high voltage generators based on client specification. In the food- and pharmaceutical industry it is crucial to make bacterium free products. For the most part, water is used as a binder in the production process of tablets, pills and dragées. Therefore, first, the water is made free of bacteria by heating and, if necessary, is further purified with UV-filter technologies. Energetically, this method is expensive. Possibly, this also can be achieved by putting a vacuum in a closed area over the water that needs purification and, at the same time, putting a high voltage between vacuum and liquid. Through this high voltage a plasma originates, by a discharge above the liquid surface, with an UV spectrum of sufficient spreading for this purification. By order of the industry, ECN has done a feasibility study about the application of a high voltage generator, on the one hand for a controlled plasma forming and on the other hand with a higher energetic yield. Subsequently, at this moment, such a plasma-generator is being developed and built.

Curing Station

Het ECN curing station is een laboratoriumapparaat waarin, onder gecontroleerde omstandigheden tabs (electrisch geleidende strips) op zonnecellen gelijmd of gesoldeerd kunnen worden. Door gebruik te maken van verschillende positioneertafels is het curing station voor diverse zonneceluitvoeringen maar ook voor andere preparaten inzetbaar. In het onderzoek naar verbindingstechnieken om zonnecellen tot een module te bouwen wordt steeds vaker gekeken naar lijmverbindingen. Het uitharden (curing) van de lijm gebeurt bij temperaturen van 100 - 200 °C. Om deze lijmsoorten en de verschillende tab-cel configuraties te testen heeft ECN Engineering & Services gezamenlijk met de unit Zon een curing station ontwikkeld.