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Discover thermal management solutions
for other renewable energy applications
Hydrogen fuel cells are electrochemical devices that generate electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water and heat as by-products.
In a hydrogen fuel cell:
They are one of the most promising clean energy technologies today, offering zero emissions, high energy density, and versatile applications. While the concept of converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity has been around for decades, the technology is still evolving, creating both immense opportunities for innovation and unique challenges for developers.
Singapore-based Spectronik aims to make hydrogen fuel cell technology accessible for a wide range of electric platforms, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), drones, and light electric transport.
The company’s flagship Protium Series is deployed in over 38 countries, supporting applications across air, land, sea, and rail. Designed to be compact and portable, these fuel cells enable flexible integration into diverse systems and operating environments.
Spectronik places strong emphasis on sustainability and product life cycle efficiency. Its fuel cells are:
The technology also integrates fuel cell air management systems and advanced fuel cell thermal management, ensuring reliable operation in a variety of conditions — a key factor when comparing hydrogen fuel cell cars vs electric cars in terms of range, efficiency, and sustainability.
All systems are designed and manufactured in Singapore, ensuring consistent quality, reliability, and innovation.
Hydrogen fuel cells generate heat as a byproduct of their chemical reactions. They are typically around 50% efficient, meaning that roughly half of the energy released is converted into electricity, while the other half is released as heat. For example, the Spectronik Protium-1000 (air-cooled fuel cell) delivers 1000 W of electrical power, producing a similar amount of heat in the process.
Effective thermal management is essential to maintain optimal performance:
Without proper heat removal, the cell can overheat, reducing efficiency and potentially shortening its lifespan. In extreme situations, as safety systems are often in place to prevent the below events from occurring, inadequate cooling can lead to:
Before selecting the ideal fan for heat removal, the airflow requirement must first be determined. Using the Protium-1000 fuel cell as an example:
Heat removal equation:
W = Cp × m × ΔT
P = Cp × ṁ × ΔT
Rearranging to find mass flow rate:
ṁ = P / (Cp × ΔT)
= 1000 / (1005 × 17.5)
= 0.0569 kg/s
Density of air (ρ) = 1.225 kg/m³
Volumetric flow required:
V̇ = ṁ / ρ
= 0.0569 / 1.225
= 0.0464 m³/s
= 167 m³/h
The estimated pressure drop across the Protium-1000 system is approximately 200 Pa.
The AxiForce 80 provides the following benefits in thermal management:
Working closely with ebm‑papst SEA in Singapore allowed Spectronik to fine-tune the cooling setup for the Protium-1000 and Protium-3000 and validate that the AxiForce 80 could meet its performance needs in practical conditions. This collaboration helped streamline the thermal management approach without adding complexity or maintenance burden. Building on that outcome, Spectronik has since evaluated ebm‑papst fan solutions for the oxidant supply side as well.
Hydrogen fuel cells rely on the reaction 2 H₂ + O₂ → 2 H₂O, meaning the oxygen supply must be carefully matched to the hydrogen input. Since oxygen is 20% of air, the actual air flow required is much higher than the hydrogen flow, typically 2.5× for stoichiometric balance.
Proper air supply management is essential to maintain optimal performance:
The RVE45 provides the following benefits in air supply management:
Careful consideration of air supply requirements and the capabilities of the RVE45 blower by ebm‑papst ensures that hydrogen fuel cells receive the correct oxidant flow to operate efficiently and reliably. By supplying 2–3× the stoichiometric ratio, the system maintains consistent performance under varying loads while preventing oxidant starvation. This approach provides a robust and flexible solution for fuel cell operation, supporting both efficiency and long-term operational stability.
Hydrogen fuel cells hold immense promise for a zero-emission future, particularly in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and other hydrogen-powered cars. However, optimizing fuel cell thermal management and the fuel cell air management system is critical to unlocking their full potential.
Through the collaboration between Spectronik and ebm‑papst, portable fuel cells like the Protium Series achieve:
This engineering focus enables users across electric mobility platforms — from drones and forklifts to hydrogen fuel cell cars — to experience efficient, safe, and long-lasting hydrogen power. Well-designed air supply and thermal management systems are key to ensuring that hydrogen fuel cells operate reliably, efficiently, and safely — demonstrating the real-world benefits and advantages of hydrogen fuel cells.