Descrizione del progetto
Soluzione scalabile per la produzione di sistemi a celle a combustibile
L’uso di sistemi a celle a combustibile per la generazione di elettricità è in aumento. Tuttavia, gli attuali processi produttivi si basano fortemente sul lavoro manuale, il che ne ostacola la scalabilità. Il progetto INLINE, finanziato dall’UE, intende fornire una soluzione per un processo di produzione scalabile e più efficiente. Il progetto si concentrerà sulla riprogettazione e sull’ottimizzazione di due componenti cruciali: l’unità di alimentazione del combustibile e il regolatore della valvola del serbatoio. Attualmente sono difficili da produrre e sono considerati degli ostacoli nel processo di produzione. INLINE svilupperà una linea di produzione integrata utilizzando strumenti di simulazione che consentiranno di valutare vari assetti, strategie di flusso parziale e scenari di produzione. Inoltre, il progetto svilupperà sistemi di assistenza alle stazioni di assemblaggio con l’obiettivo di migliorare la scalabilità riducendo al minimo la necessità di formazione dei lavoratori.
Obiettivo
The INLINE project aims at the solution of key challenges to enable the implementation of a scalable manufacturing process for fuel cell systems. Current manufacturing processes rely on manual work that has substantial limits in terms of cycle times, costs and scalability. Developments will start with the re-design and optimization of two key components: the media supply unit and the tank valve regulator. Both are components that are currently difficult to manufacture and are perceived as bottlenecks in the production process. Based on these new designs, an integrated production line will be planned using simulation tools. These tools will enable the evaluation of different layouts, part flow strategies and for different production scenarios. In terms of manufacturing tools, the end of line test will be improved to reduce cycle times by a factor of 3 and assistance systems for assembly stations will be developed that will enable scalability by reducing the need for training of workers. The overall target is to reduce the cycle time for production of a whole fuel cell system from 15 hours to less than 2.5 hours. Data gathering and analysis methods will be developed to enable the tracking of parts through the production line and - through a correlation of process and quality data - the continuous improvement of the production process.
Demonstration of the end of line test and the assistance system will be done in hardware. The whole production line will be evaluated using a simulation tool that has been verified on the current production process. A set of engineering samples of the re-designed tank valve regulator and the media supply unit will be produced and used for tests of the integrated fuel cells and for assessment of the whole production process.A potential of 250 new jobs in manufacturing of fuel cells and for production of the key components will be generated by the project.
Campo scientifico
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsoptical sensors
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringsubtractive manufacturing
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinatore
4407 STEYR GLEINK
Austria