Optimized Cathode Subsystem for Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Systems

Authors

Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. E. Wahlmüller, Dipl.-Ing. M. Zarhuber, Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. C. Ahamer BSc,  Plastic Omnium New Energies Wels GmbH, Wels; Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. A. Trattner, Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. P. Pertl, Dipl.-Ing. Dr. techn. C. Zinner, HyCentA Research GmbH, Graz; Dipl.-Ing. (FH) C. Doppler, Dipl.-Ing. R. Schruth, Virtual Vehicle Research GmbH, Graz:

Year

2022

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

In order to meet future climate targets in the mobility sector, electromobility based on renewable energies is essential. Especially for applications outside of individual mobility, fuel cell propulsion will play a decisive role already in the next decade. This is due to the obvious advantages in terms of packaging, range and refueling times. For the fuel cell dominated powertrain in applications such as trucks, buses, trains or even ships to actually establish itself as a sustainable solution, research is currently being conducted primarily on increasing system efficiency, ensuring service life and reducing costs (total cost of ownership, TCO). In the NextGenFCM project, Plastic Omnium New Energies Wels and its research partners are focusing specifically on the cathode path, since the components of this subsystem account for a significant share of the total costs and also have a major impact on system efficiency. Based on typical customer requirements for the medium- and heavy- duty trucks considered in this publication and appropriately selected driving cycles, various powertrain configurations are analyzed using an entire-vehicle simulation. Special focus is placed on the effects of an additional turbine in the cathode path to reduce parasitic losses for air compression. The achievable advantages in terms of system efficiency and operating costs were compared with the disadvantage of increased system complexity.

The results of this analysis as part of the NextGenFCM project will be verified on a cathode test rig developed specifically for this project. A fuel cell system with optimized cathode subsystem based on data from the simulation and test bench verification will be the final target.

ISBN

1920-2323-23-1

Number of pages

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