Optimising topologies of fuel cell hybrid drive trains for working machines 2018-09-13 18:11:51

Goal

A general objective of the project was to develop fuel cell knowledge in Finland in all parts of the fuel cell value chain. This supports and enables new business activities in the field of fuel cell technologies. These business opportunities include materials, fuel, stacks, systems and integration to other products.

The TopDrive-project continued the experimental activities that started during the WorkingPEM-project and aimed to develop tools and train researchers in model based design of fuel cell hybrid drivetrains. When the heavily experimental and emonstration oriented WorkingPEM-project finished, it was seen that to support possible product development work of the participating industry in the future, simulation-based evaluation of system topologies, combined with strong experimental background to enable validation of these tools would be a costefficient path to follow.

Objectives

Objectives for different work packages of VTT part of the project, as defined in the project plan, are listed here.

WP1:

l  Experimental knowledge in hybrid fuel cell systems with different electrical

system topologies

l  Experimental knowledge in commercial fuel cell systems

l  Knowledge base for fuel cell system integration (in power range of 50-80 kW)

WP2:

l  Experimental knowledge in main fuel cell balance of plant (BoP) system components

l  Semi-empirical models for BoP components

l  Knowledge about system components for 50-80 kW system

WP3:

l  A dynamic model for unpressurised fuel cell system with low pressure drop on the air side enabling system design and performance optimization

l  Reduced order models of the system that can be executed online with the real process and control algorithms to take advantage of the models

l  System models that can be used for estimation of process parameters when working with limited amount of information (minimal instrumentation)

l  A model for fuel cell hybrid power source that can be used in optimizing topologies and component sizing. This model is developed together with Aalto University

WP4:

l  A durable and cost-efficient liquid cooled PBIFC stack optimized for operation between 160 and 180 °C

l  An innovative oil cooled PBIFC stack optimized for high cooling oil outlet temperature and large internal temperature differences

l  Successful demonstration of domestic component (bipolar plate composite) in PBIFC stack, that enables commercial launch of the composite

WP5:

l  Knowledge that enables definition of filtering and fuel quality requirements for working machines in different applications

l  Evaluation of impurity tolerance of both PBIFC and PEFC enabling comparison of technologies in highly polluted environment

WP6:

l  Understanding safety and reliability issues of fuel cell hybrid power sources at the level that enables use of information in cost optimization studies

l  Implementing hydrogen safety engineering knowledge to traditional safety and reliability studies in order to develop efficient methods for fuel cell hybrid power source safety and reliability studies in the future