Indian Scientists Develop Fuel Cells To Improve Disaster Management

Indian scientists have developed polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) which will help applications in decentralized power generation systems. PEMFC were developed at the International Advanced Research for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad, an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science & Technology (DST), according to an official press release.

The system has been developed in the power range of 1 to 20 kilowatt (kW) and demonstrated the same in stationary (1-20 kW) and transport applications (1,3,5 kW). Emergency Operation Centres (EOC), backed with 10 kW system along with fuel cell stack, provide sustainable electricity using hydrogen gas without the need of grid power.

Tamil Nadu is generally affected by five to six cyclones every year, of which two to three are severe. There has been a paradigm shift in the focus of disaster management, from response-centric (rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction) to laying greater emphasis on the other elements of disaster management cycle (prevention, mitigation, and preparedness) as a means to avert the impact of future emergencies.

The government of Tamil Nadu places equal importance on both approaches and is keen to develop a robust disaster management system. The latest concept in disaster management all over the world is about conversion of control rooms to EOCs. EOCs respond immediately during an emergency situation with state-of-the-art communication systems. This helps in providing immediate support during the golden hour of the disaster.

Hence, the state Government decided to look at the prospect of converting the existing control rooms to EOCs backed with 10 kW system along with fuel cell stack. Fuel cell systems offer a potential benefit in terms of providing sustainable electricity using hydrogen gas without the need of grid power as required by conventional battery backup systems. Recently, ARCI demonstrated the feasibility of providing power to EOCs..