SFC - Portable Fuel Cells and Military Power Systems

Fuel cells for military applications are gaining more and more impetus. With the growing need for electrical power, the total weight of power sources to be carried along on a mission is increasing.

A growing component of the soldier's load is made up of primary and backup power sources for electronic systems like GPS, communications and computer C4ISR gear.

Reducing this load is a primary objective to increase soldier survivability, lethality, effectiveness and mobility, and mission flexibility

SFC MILITARY FUEL CELL TEAM

SFC Military is a specialized team of competent, experienced engineering, scientific, and technical experts. The team knows and understands the special, demanding requirements of advanced military programs and is well-equipped to handle them.

LIGHTWEIGHT MILITARY POWER SOLUTIONS

SFC is committed to providing lightweight power solutions that address the specific needs of military applications. SFC’s military power generation and management systems offer major advantages over conventional power supplies:

• 80% weight reduction (in a three day mission)
• Extremely high energy density (>1,200Wh/kg)
• Fully automated, intelligent power management and adaptation to existing devices
• Simplified logistics: existing fuel infrastructure, ease of transport (IATA conformity for air transport)
• Silent operation
• Safe (CE, TUEV-GS, IATA certified) and easy handling (hot swap, instant recharge)
• No storage decharge
• Continuous power supply; eliminates the necessity of having to interrupt the mission for battery recharge

Finally, there is a reliable, fully automated power solution for soldiers in the field!

FCPS PORTABLE FUEL CELL SYSTEM

SFC's FCPS portable fuel cell system consists of a fuel cell, a fuel cartridge, and a hybrid battery, revolutionizing portable power supply for soldiers. It replaces the need to carry several spare batteries for powering electronic systems and thus considerably increases the tactical operating range.

During a 72-hour mission at 20W average power, the FCPS achieves 80% weight reduction over batteries. The FCPS is able to smartly charge batteries and to directly power electronic systems carried by the soldier.

SFC POWER MANAGER

SFC's Power Manager is able to harvest / manage energy from virtually any source to provide electrical power during operation of host equipment. These sources include batteries of various chemistries and states of charge, fuel cells, photovoltaic cells, typical battery chargers, AC wall plugs and even commonly found automotive battery buses. With its high efficient internal DC/DC-converters the power manager will improve overall power system run-time. 

MILITARY POWER SUPPLY PROJECT PARTNERS

The German Bundeswehr and associated military organisations in Europe:

• Project: development and qualification of a portable lightweight 25W power supply for IdZ and special forces

The US Army Defense Acquisition and Challenge Program (DACP) and DuPont:

• Project: fuel cell integration in US Army Land Warrior vest with automatic recharge of Li-ion hybrid battery

The US Air Force:

• Project: development and qualification of a 50W fuel cell power supply
• Target: 7kg weight reduction in power supply per mission for airmen

SFC FUEL CELLS - PROVEN COMMERCIAL SUCCESS

SFC fuel cell and energy management products for the military build on SFC's long expertise in mobile off-grid power applications. Thousands of SFC fuel cells today are reliably and automatically powering electrical devices on board of motor homes, sailboats, and holiday cabins. They also provide energy for off-grid sensors, measuring and recording systems in traffic, biology, surveillance, geology and many more applications, independent of season and weather.