Membrane - Fuel Cell

Visionary

Water covers over 70% of our planet, but only a small propor­tion of the world’s water resources can be used for drinking water. Membranes help us enjoy and use water in many different ways.
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MEMBRANE – FUEL CELL

INNO­V­A­TIVE

Tech­nology for the energy of tomorrow

Membrane tech­nology has an impor­tant role within the BWT Group. Membranes are manu­fac­tured by BWT for ‘natural’ use in water treat­ment. They are an indis­pens­able compo­nent in the creation of clean water for  all aspects of our lives and are also required to generate and store energy, for example in pioneering fuel cell tech­nology. So BWT is a real driver of inno­va­tion in membrane tech­nology.

Membranes: the Heart of the Fuel Cell

Membrane
Membrane

What are membranes?

A membrane is basi­cally a thin film, or lamella, that is able to divide or delin­eate an element. A membrane may be perme­able to certain substances, but others cannot pass through it. Membranes are also a compo­nent of all cells, and there­fore the basis of life. So, in terms of their compo­si­tion, shape and func­tions, membranes are as multi­fac­eted as life itself. What better way of learning than from the inge­nious ideas of mother nature?

Membranes used for tech­nical appli­ca­tions consist mainly of polyurethanes and, to a lesser extent, ceramics, and both are extremely fine. To ensure adequate stability, they are supported by struc­tures made from iden­tical or different mate­rials. Membranes are gener­ally used to sepa­rate substances from each other. The great advan­tage of processes that use membranes is that they tend to perform cost-​effectively and are both energy-​efficient and eco-​friendly. Membrane systems are also constructed as compact, modular struc­tures.

Appli­ca­tions

BWT hydrogen fuel cell concept car
BWT hydrogen fuel cell concept car

Membranes are extremely versa­tile, and can be used in numerous appli­ca­tions:

  • for water treat­ment in ion exchangers
  • as the heart of the fuel cell
  • for batteries
  • for water elec­trol­ysis

 

Fuel cells for the cars of tomorrow

All the major car manu­fac­turers have recog­nised the poten­tial of fuel cell tech­nology. There is hardly a make of car that does not exploit this propul­sion tech­nology, while the devel­op­ment of fuel cell vehicle proto­types is becoming increas­ingly wide­spread.

Although the network of hydrogen filling stations is currently under­de­vel­opped, it is growing. Experts agree that hydrogen propul­sion offers the perfect combi­na­tion of climate-​friendly electro mobility and quick refu­elling at filling stations, as we know it from petrol and diesel.

However, the poten­tial uses of this inno­v­a­tive tech­nology are by no means confined to the auto­mo­tive sector; fuel cells can also be used, for example, to supply elec­tricity for portable elec­trical devices or to generate elec­tricity and heating in private house­holds.

Membrane produc­tion at BWT

FUMATECH BWT is a subsidiary of the BWT Group and the leading producer of ion exchanger membranes. The company has gained exten­sive knowl­edge from over 25 years’ expe­ri­ence in membrane manu­fac­turing and membrane process tech­nology, from the synthesis of the raw and auxil­iary mate­rials to the processing of these mate­rials into membranes, right up to their tech­nical appli­ca­tion. FUMATECH BWT has earned a partic­u­larly high inter­na­tional repu­ta­tion as a supplier of inno­v­a­tive membranes – the heart of the PEM fuel cell.