High process reliability with bundled know-how for every production step
Comprehensive traceability via the higher-level master controller
Fully automated and chained production lines with coordinated plant technology and interfaces
High-volume systems for series production from metal strip to BPP or the finished fuel cell system
Pre-validation on a prototype process comparable to series production
Flexible and scalable plant technology adapted to the requirement
Short time-to-market: Fast concept and quotation submission and efficient commissioning thanks to predefined hardware and software interfaces
Vacuum based coating of metal strip substrates (Pre-Coating) for bipolar plates
Process
- Vacuum Coating of metal strip substrate
- Process component options:
- Plasma Pretreatment (surface activation / cleaning)
- PVD-Coating by magnetron sputtering or electron beam evaporation
- Heating / Cooling
Benefits from coating metal substrates
- Mechanical and chemical stability
- Low interfacial contact resistance
- Low coating costs
- Electrical and thermal conductivity
- Corrosion resistance
- Long lifetime
Learn more or contact us directly
Laser cutting
By using laser technology, you avoid the use of high-maintenance tools and react flexibly to contour changes.
System advantages
- Cutting speed up to 50 m/min
- Highest dynamics through linear direct drives
- Contour accuracy up to +/- 0,02 mm
- For standard plate format up to 500 x 165 mm, a doubled mold is possible
- Highest cutting quality due to real-time controlled power regulation
- Automated loading and unloading from KLT or belt system
Learn more or contact us directly
Optical inspection
- Optical inspection of the coating for homogeneity/defects
- Checking the orientation of the plate before loading
Learn more or contact us directly
Laser welding
System advantages
- Patent-pending welding modules with large working area of 500 x 350 mm
- Dual field scanner technology for an absolute welding speed of 1000 mm/s for maximum output
- Reduced thermal distortion due to symmetrical heat input with Butterfly Weld
- Double panel loading is possible for panel sizes up to 500 x 165 mm
- Low space requirement
Learn more or contact us directly
Leak testing
- Use of all common test methods possible (pressure drop, detection gas test with helium)
- High flexibility due to easily exchangeable sealing devices as well as the use of the modular ZELWANGER measuring inserts ZEDcore
- Scalable test systems incl. semi- to fully-automatic loading and unloading process
- Achieving the shortest possible test times through the use of specially developed measuring circuits and test fixtures
- Preliminary tests as well as measuring equipment capability tests in our own application laboratory or at the customer’s site
Vacuum based coating of metal bipolar plate substrates (Post-Coating)
Process
- V- Vacuum Coating of metal bipolar plates
- Process component options:
- Plasma Pretreatment (surface activation / cleaning)
- PVD-Coating by magnetron sputtering or electron beam evaporation
- Heating / Cooling
Benefits from coating metal substrates
- Mechanical and chemical stability
- Low interfacial contact resistance
- Low coating costs
- Electrical and thermal conductivity
- Corrosion resistance
- Long lifetime
Learn more or contact us directly
Application and testing of the seal
Automated application of sealing compound
- 1K or 2K sealants
Process monitoring
- Volume flow monitoring
- Visual inspection of the sealing bead „on the fly“
Hardening
Advantages
- Automated process for high productivity
- Highly accurate dosing of the sealing
material possible - Optical inspection of the sealing lip after
application optional
Bipolar plate
Stacking-Anlage im Detail
Speed
- Stacking rate up to 2.9 seconds per cell
- Optical positioning „on the fly“
Accuracy
- Positioning accuracy +/- 0.10mm
- Optical tests
- After grabbing
- After discarding
- Position correction after measuring the component using optical contours of the components
- Straight or inclined stacking device
Flexibility
- Freely adjustable number of cells (up to 500 cells)
- Standardized for component dimensions up to 250mm x 500mm
- Handling of bipolar plates made of metal or graphite
- Expandable with integrated leak test, bracing module and pre-assembly processes
Compression, leak testing and clamping
Pressing of the stacked fuel cell stack
- Force-displacement monitored pressing of the stack by means of servo presses
- Free parameterization of the force and/or displacement over time
Leak testing of the fuel cell stack
- Fully automatic testing of external and internal leakages of the individual test chambers to each other (anode, cathode, cooling)
- Allocation of the leakage channel possible using highly accurate flow measuring circuits
Clamping of the fuel cell stack
- Manual or automatic clamping of the stack possible by means of metal straps or threaded rods
Fuel cell stack
Assembly
Manual and semi-automated assembly workstations for the production of fuel cell systems
- Mounting of the stack in a housing incl. bracing
- Assembly of media supply circuits
Assembly of peripheral components
- Humidifier
- Recirculation unit
- Air treatment
- Inverter
Test station for fuel cell systems
- Leak testing of the anode, cathode and cooling circuits with air and helium
- Leak detection through the use of helium sniffing processes
- EOL isolation tests
End-of-Line-Test
Leak test with air / nitrogen
- Cooling channel
- Anode channel / hydrogen
- Cathode channel / air
- External and internal leakage (cross-over)
Leak test with helium
- H2 circuit (robotic sniff test for leakage measurement and leak localization)
HV test / Isolation test
Filling and venting of the cooling circuit
Fully automated and chained production line
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Hydrogen Technology Expo, Houston
28. – 29. June 2023 | Houston, USA
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13. – 14. September 2023 | Stuttgart, Germany
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27. – 28. September 2023 | Bremen, Germany
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Alexander Wemme
Industry Manager Hydrogen & Fuel Cell
VON ARDENNE GmbH
Tel.: +49 351 2637177
wemme.alexander@vonardenne.biz
Harald Liebhart
Manager of Development
Laser Cutting Technology and E-Mobility
Weil Technology GmbH
Tel.: +49 7631 1809 0
h.liebhart@weil-technology.com
Patrick Reich
Head of Global Sales
ZELTWANGER Gruppe
Tel.: +49 7072 92897 526
Mobil: + 49 1516 880 2310
p.reich@zeltwanger.de