Dr. Zhang Xuefeng, Executive Director of Sigatobo Battery Air Compressor, accepted an exclusive interview with Gaogong Hydrogen!

Dr. Zhang Xuefeng, Executive Director of Sigatobo Battery Air Compressor, accepted an exclusive interview with Gaogong Hydrogen!

Gaogong Hydrogen Electric: Established in 2011, Sigatobo has 8 years of product research and development experience and deep market knowledge. What are the core technologies of the company's hydrogen fuel cell air compressor? Is there a practical application case for this product for reference?

　　Zhang Xuefeng: Sigatobo has been rooted in the research and development services of high-end impeller machinery. After 8 years of experience, it has become a leading brand in the industry. Since 2016, the company has undergone thorough investigation and initiated the development of fuel cell oil-free centrifugal air compressors. This is an independent research and development industrialization project that the company has invested a lot of energy in.

In the past three years, the company has broken through the core key technical barriers such as high-efficiency low specific speed compressors, dynamic pressure air bearings, high-speed motors and high-frequency control, and successfully developed the XT-FCC series air suspension air compressors (the product series can be Perfectly cover the clean gas supply system requirements of 30-150kW stack).

　　 Our first batch of prototypes "XT-FCC300 Pioneer No. 1" has been delivered to customers for system matching and performance evaluation tests, which have been highly praised. As a company with positive development capabilities, we are able to satisfy customers' simultaneous development needs and optimal system performance matching to the greatest extent.

Dr. Zhang Xuefeng, Executive Director of Sigatobo Battery Air Compressor, accepted an exclusive interview with Gaogong Hydrogen!

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: As one of the core components of the hydrogen fuel cell system, what technical requirements must the air compressor meet to be truly applicable to fuel cells?

　　 Zhang Xuefeng: In order to achieve the highest possible energy conversion efficiency, the electrochemical reaction inside the fuel cell has strict requirements on the parameters of air temperature, humidity, pressure and flow. However, currently widely used industrial compressors cannot meet the requirements of fuel cells for gas supply characteristics. Therefore, the design and development of a compressor that has superior performance and can be well matched with the fuel cell system is very important to the performance improvement of the fuel cell and the development of the industry.

　　 If the stack is the heart of the fuel cell power system, then the oil-free air compressor is the powerful lung and a very important part of the fuel cell system. "Heart-lung function" basically determines the technical level and performance indicators of fuel cells.

We always believe that fuel cell air compressors are different from conventional air compressors and electronic superchargers from traditional engines. It should be a new species. Air compressors suitable for fuel cells need to be absolutely oil-free, low-noise, High reliability, high efficiency, miniaturization, wide working range, good dynamic response ability, good thermal management, low cost and many other stringent requirements.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: What are the difficulties in the design of the air compressor, the core component of the hydrogen fuel cell system?

Zhang Xuefeng: Centrifugal air compressor is the core component of hydrogen fuel cell. It represents the highest level in the air compressor industry, involving aerodynamics, heat transfer, vibration mechanics, machinery, motors, electrical control, materials, and high Many disciplines such as finishing.

　　 Air compressor research and development not only need to overcome multiple single technologies, but also need to integrate these single technologies to make the unit operate safely and efficiently. These individual technologies include: high-efficiency and wide-range centrifugal air compressor pneumatic design and processing, elastic foil type dynamic pressure air bearing design and manufacturing, ultra-high-speed motor design and manufacturing, ultra-high-frequency permanent magnet synchronous motor controller design; integration Technologies include thermal management design and high-speed rotor rotor dynamics design and analysis.

As a research and development service company of impeller machinery that has provided design consulting services for more than 100 companies (including aerospace power), we have fully mastered the design and manufacture of compressors, the design and manufacture of air bearings and ultra-high-speed motors. Design and manufacturing.

　　 Moreover, the permanent magnet synchronous motor high-frequency controller developed by us and the supplier can be well matched with various models. In addition, each component design has corresponding technical challenges. We need to think about how to weigh the pros and cons and effectively integrate these core components. This requires very rich engineering technology accumulation and trade-offs in multidisciplinary fields, such as how to achieve small On the basis of optimization, without sacrificing too much performance and working condition range. These R&D breakthroughs and optimization iterations are based on the accumulation of years of high-end R&D experience of Sega Tobo, and the team has overcome difficulties for a long time.

　　 For three years, Sigatobo air compressors have always adhered to the high-speed direct-drive centrifugal technology route. Looking back now, our technical route selection is very correct. Most of the components, including bearings, motors and controllers, can be manufactured and produced in China. Our advantages in industrialization and cost reduction are relatively obvious.

　　Because the system design of each customer is different, only by customizing the best matching design of the air compressor and the system can the fuel cell system performance be optimized. For this reason, we have planned a unique XT-FCC technical architecture during the serial design. On top of the unified underlying technology and design architecture, it has very flexible scalability and customization. This design concept is similar to the GELeapX aero engine. With the same product technical architecture, in order to match the performance requirements of different aircraft customers, several important customer models are derived from LeapA (Airbus), LeapB (Boeing), and LeapC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China).

As a team with strong positive development capabilities, Sigatobo can give full play to our technical research and development advantages, closely coordinate research and development with our customers, and quickly develop together on the XT-FCC technical architecture to produce customized products for key customers. Product version to meet the extreme requirements of different customers for system performance, and this also helps fuel cell system customers to establish their own competitive advantages and technical barriers.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: Is there any special attention to raw materials in product development?

　　 Zhang Xuefeng: The use of appropriate raw materials is the basis for achieving product design intent. In terms of mechanical structural components, as a product positioning for the automotive industry, we give priority to the selection of raw materials, supply chains and quality management systems for automotive systems. For certain key components, we will also choose aviation-grade materials, such as high-temperature alloys.

　　 At the same time, we are also trying to use some new materials to further improve product performance. Currently, different scheme routes are being tested and optimized in parallel. The Sigatobo team has a very deep background in aviation power R&D and manufacturing services. The accumulation of engineering technology experience in high-end R&D service projects can be applied to the automotive field across borders.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: So far, how is the market expansion of Shijiatobo air compressors?

Zhang Xuefeng: Our market positioning is very clear: 1. Always maintain technology leadership, and achieve the industry's No. 1 performance index with solid and continuous research and development capabilities; 2. Follow the industry development needs to do our cost control and no longer let The industry is stuck by foreign brands; 3. Build the most professional service team. After several years of entrepreneurial development, we currently have established our teams and bases in Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, and Rugao, Jiangsu, which can achieve fast delivery and instant delivery. service.

　　 2019 should be the year when our market starts to increase volume. We will closely follow the needs of industry customers to configure our capacity plan. To a certain extent, the market demand for our products mainly depends on the upgrade dynamics of national policies and the progress of industry customers in the research and development and commercialization of medium and high voltage fuel cell systems.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: What are the mainstream air compressor types currently on the market? Which type is expected to occupy a larger market share in the future?

Zhang Xuefeng: Air compressors are an important component of the air supply system of fuel cell systems. Different air compressors are often required to match the performance requirements of different fuel cell systems. Commonly used air compressors include screw, centrifugal, and vortex compressors. Rotary and Roots air compressors, etc.

　　 Centrifugal compressor has the best overall effect in terms of power density, efficiency, noise, etc., and is considered to be one of the most promising air boosting methods. Judging from the current research and development direction at home and abroad, centrifugal air compressors will be the mainstream development direction in the future. At the same time, as the performance requirements of the fuel cell system for the air supply system increase, the matching of centrifugal air compressors and turbines will inevitably become the main trend in the future development of fuel cell air compressors.

　　 However, the centrifugal air compressor will surge when the flow is low, which will seriously affect the performance of the system and the service life of the air compressor. The centrifugal air compressor developed by Sega Tobo has a wider stable operating range and can achieve a greater pressure rise rate under small flow conditions, which is conducive to the normal operation of the air compressor under low flow and high pressure ratio conditions. Run without surge.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: Compared with foreign air compressor products, what are the differences between domestic products and their products? What are the breakthroughs required for each?

　　 Zhang Xuefeng: At present, there are no fully mature products that fully meet user requirements in the world. Some foreign manufacturers started earlier, and there is a certain distance between domestic and foreign air compressor technology, but this distance is something we can try to catch up.

　　The result data of our "XT-FCC300 Pioneer No. 1" customer evaluation has shown that the product performance has exceeded foreign competitors in many aspects. Foreign products are not perfect either. In terms of breakthroughs in core technology, domestic and foreign products are actually facing the same challenges and problems. With the vigorous development of the Chinese market, we believe that Chinese brands have more advantages in many aspects. We firmly believe that there will be Chinese brands winning in this field.

In this context, we should seize the rare opportunity, give full play to our unique technical advantages, and do a solid job in the following aspects: close collaborative research and development with power systems, demand traction, and technology promotion; multi-disciplinary cross-border applications, close production, learning and research Cooperation; rush forward down-to-earth and continuously accumulate product development data.

　　 Gaogong Hydrogen Power: It is understood that the current stage is the market introduction period for air compressors, and it is also an opportunity for air compressor manufacturers to enter the hydrogen fuel cell market. What is your opinion?

　　 Zhang Xuefeng: We look forward to more domestic and high-quality enterprises to join this market. Only with healthy competition can the industry's sustainable development and technological upgrading, jointly promote the healthy and rapid development of the fuel cell industry.