Enclosures that house hydrogen fuel cells must be vented to prevent potential explosions. Fuel cell enclosure filters from Universal Air Filter (www.uaf.com) keep air moving efficiently while keeping dust, debris, rain and mist from entering cabinets. Backup power supply systems, commonly used in the telecom industry, are often located in harsh outdoor environments such as remote wireless base stations or outside telecom central offices.

• These air filters are made of Quadrafoam and Quadrafoam II filter media that comply with Telcordia GR-63-CORE and GR-487-CORE NEBS requirements for flame, fungus and corrosion resistance.
• They meet stringent flame safety requirements of UL 94-1 with a zero fungus growth rating. Fungus or mold can clog a filter and cause equipment failure, especially in unattended remote locations.
• Metal filter frame components can be treated with special RoHS-compliant finishes for corrosion protection.
• Quadrafoam and Quadrafoam II filter media are cleanable and reusable, and available in black, gray or green. Both products feature increased dust-holding capacity and low air resistance. Quadrafoam II is ideal for prolonged exposure to high temperature, high moisture, and other harmful elements. Products with Quadrafoam II air filters have been environmentally tested to withstand dust intrusion and wind driven rain, as detailed in GR-487-CORE.

Universal Air Filter products meet the following standards and classifications:

• UL 94 HF-1
• UL 900 Class 2, CE
• Telcordia NEBS GR-78-CORE and GR-63-CORE
• RoHS Compliance.
• When used as part of a fire enclosure, they also may be configured to comply with flame-drip requirements described in UL 60950 and EN 60950.

A free, round-the-clock prototype service is available to design engineers worldwide at www.uaf.com. The Internet-submitted prototype request form, or a quick phone call, fax or e-mail, is generally all it takes to get the necessary information so the custom prototype can be produced and shipped within five working days.

For more information, contact: Universal Air Filter Co., 1624 Sauget Industrial Parkway, Sauget, Illinois 62206. Phone: 800-541-3478. Fax: 618-271-8808. Web site: www.uaf.com.

Delphi is focusing on the development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells that generate auxiliary electric power for commercial vehicles, stationary applications, military applications and passenger vehicles. The Solid Oxide fuel Cell converts chemical energy in conventional fuels, such as diesel, gasoline, or natural gas, directly into useful electrical power without combustion. It has very few moving parts and, as a result creates only a low level of sound. In addition, the Delphi SOFC system produces high quality by-product heat that can be used for a range of purposes.

Delphi and its partner Battelle Pacific Northwest Division are one of the industry teams in the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) program at the Department Of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy. The SECA program objective is to accelerate development and commercialization of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology. Details of the Delphi program can be found here.

Commercial Vehicle Applications

For commercial vehicles, Delphi's Solid Oxide Fuel Cell technology will be implemented as an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide an energy efficient, compact, quiet, low emissions device for powering climate control and electrical accessories as an alternative to idling the main engine. In future variations, the Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell APU will also be able to power current belt-driven vehicle loads such as engine cooling fan and water pump, thus removing them from the primary engine and resulting in improved fuel economy.

Requirements for Power Generation with Fuel Cells

Major development objectives for fuel cell systems are simplification, optimisation and maturity of fuel cells and its balance of plant (BoP) components towards competitive cost, low complexity, high lifetime and reliability. Specifically tailored simulation tools and testing systems covering the entire development process are required.

PEMFC based powertrains could become reality when these goals will be achieved. Particularly during automotive operation at very high and very low temperatures, sophisticated water and heat management concepts are required for reliable operation.

Very high temperatures and the specific operating conditions of SOFC systems require reliable components and sensors, which are not commercially available today. Together with long lifetime targets and compatibility with frequent thermal cycling, this leads to the need of special testing environments with the possibility of accelerated testing and component tests under application of hardware in the loop (HIL) test methods.

AVL Strengths

• Over ten years experience in fuel cell development
• Profound knowledge about different kind of instrumentation and sensor technologies
• Special fuel cell test benches based on proven automotive work flows
• In-house simulation tools development and efficient application within development processes
• Customer orientation
• Confidentiality
• Flexibility

Customer Benefits

• Better understanding of fuel cell phenomena (e.g. critical stack aging processes)
• Optimised and simplified fuel cell system design including proper operating strategies
• Improved system lifetime knowledge applying special durability and reliability methods
• Fuel cell subsystem and components development even when the entire system is not yet available (HIL concept)
• Lower component and system life cycle costs at full functionality
• High product quality

Automotive Component Assembly Solutions

Our full range of standard, proven platforms allows Mikron to provide its customers with the best solutions. The modular, hybrid concept composed of manual workstations, semi-automatic and fully automatic cells permits "Lean Manufacturing" solutions and progressive investment opportunities for optimum return. The high degree of standardization and modularity of the systems offers multiple possibilities for new product re-deployment.

Example Applications of Mikron Systems

Airbag gas generators

Initiators

Tensioners

Fuel injectors

ABS valves

Sensors

Seat belt buckles

DC motors

Lamps

All standard systems are class 10,000 clean room compatible with the use of permanently lubricated components and stainless steel. Each cell allows easy access for cleaning.

To explore how your production facility can benefit from Mikron Assembly Technology's systems and expertise click on the Product Details link on the right or e mail us to discuss your neeeds.

Immersion and
Spray Cleaning
Plus Rotation
of Parts in
Baskets
This front loading Industrial Parts Washer processes four baskets
of parts at a time size 12 x 20 x 8 through an Aqueous
Wash, Rinse and Drying cycle by rotating them in a
turbulated immersion bath. Powerful Spray Under Immersion Jets
clean complex and blind holed parts flushing away all chips and oils.

HOW IT WORKS
The Lean Clean 360 Series of Parts Washers are totally self contained
machines designed for Lean Manufacturing work cells. They provide superior
aqueous cleaning and drying results in a small foot print and require
minimal maintenance. Wash and rinse solution tanks are located
underneath the cleaning chamber.
During the cleaning cycle the solutions are pumped from the reservoir tanks
and into the cleaning chamber. The solutions are continually recirculated
through micron filters and discharged through submerged cleaning jets onto the parts inside.
As the baskets rotate the parts are immersed in the turbulated bath and
all chips are flushed away and collected in the chip collection system.
After washing the solution returns to the storage tank and
the rinse cycle begins, the parts are immersion rinsed and sprayed rinsed.
After rinsing the JENFAB SUPER DRYER quickly removes 100% of the moisture.

OPTIONS
Selectable Rocking Action for parts to delicate for rotation
Oils can be continually collected in a coalescing oil removal system.
Ultrasonic Cleaning is used for difficult soils and complex shaped parts
Fresh Water/Di/Ro rinsing
Lean Clean 360-1 Single Basket Model
Lean Clean 360-2 Two Basket Model
Lean Clean 360-8 Eight Basket Model

TYPICAL PARTS CLEANED

• Screw Machine Parts
  
• Automotive Transmission components
  
• Automotive Stampings
  
• Precision Electronic Stampings
  
• Parts Fixtured on Pallets
  
• Machined Parts
  
• Bearing Components
  
• Hydraulic/Pneumatic fittings
  
• Tubular Shapes

As society settles into the 21st century, things are getting smaller and smaller. It's often been said that it's becoming a "Nano world". Nanotechnology is becoming more important in photonics, energy, semiconductor processing, and the medical and life sciences industries.

Since Insaco is already a key player in these industries, we are well-suited to continue to offer support in these industries as the technology advances. Frequently organizations pioneering in the nanotechnology field require precision tooling fixtures or substrates made from the ultra hard and impervious materials Insaco routinely processes. Since we do not produce materials, we are free to source or recommend exotic materials from the most appropriate suppliers and then machine and polish to exacting customer requirements.

Some examples of the work done at Insaco involving nanotechnology is in flow cell cytometry for early cancer detection, DNA sequencing support for faster and cheaper test results, as well as fuel cells which have no environmental liability.

To read more about the materials that are suited to your application click on our

Interactive Designer's Guide to the Selection of Hard Materials

Or to read specifications and in depth info on the wide array of materials that Insaco works with click on Materials Data pages