U.S. Army Strategy for Utilizing Fuel Cells as Auxiliary Power Units

Author(s):  
Herbert H. Dobbs ◽  
Erik T. Kallio ◽  
James M. Pechacek
Author(s):  
David A. Berry ◽  
Robert James ◽  
Todd H. Gardner ◽  
Dushyant Shekhawat

The near-term commercial success for many fuel cell technologies will rely on their ability to utilize current infrastructure fuels. Several large ready-markets exist for fuel cell systems that utilize middle distillate petroleum fractions like diesel fuel. One particular application is diesel-based auxiliary power units (APU). Unfortunately, very little research and development has been devoted to this application. Ongoing research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and other organizations is trying to address this need. In order for a fuel cell to utilize diesel fuel, it must be reformed into a synthesis gas containing primarily hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, steam and possibly methane. Because catalytic reforming of hydrocarbon fuels is conducted at the same relative operating temperatures of technologies like solid oxide fuel cells (800–1000°C) a high degree of thermal integration is possible. Unfortunately, carbon deposition and sulfur poisoning of catalysts in the reformer and fuel cell make system operation potentially complicated and costly. To help understand and quantify the impact of these issues on technology development and component, a number of systems analysis was conducted for a diesel-based fuel cell system. One particular system based on a hybrid combustor/reformer concept allowed for excellent utilization of available heat from the fuel cell and yielded an overall fuel to electric conversion efficiency of nearly 50%. This paper discusses its salient features and compares its characteristics to other possible system configurations.


2014 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
pp. 61-64
Author(s):  
A.S. Aricò

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) have been postulated as suitable systems for power generation in the fields of portable power sources, remote and micro-distributed energy generation, and auxiliary power units (APU). The main objective of the DURAMET project ((http://www.duramet.eu) is to develop cost-effective components for DMFCs with enhanced activity and stability in order to reduce stack costs and improve performance and durability. The project concerns with the development of DMFC components for application in auxiliary power units and portable systems.


2003 ◽  
Vol 1842 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Lutsey ◽  
Christie-Joy Brodrick ◽  
Daniel Sperling ◽  
Harry A. Dwyer

Fuel cells are widely expected to replace internal combustion engines in vehicles. However, their high initial costs preclude their introduction into the mass market for some time. A new approach is needed that focuses on niche markets. The potential use of fuel cells in auxiliary power units (APUs) on board various types of automobiles and trucks— in luxury passenger automobiles, law enforcement vehicles, contractor trucks, specialized utility trucks, recreational vehicles, refrigerated trucks, and line-haul heavy-duty trucks—is explored. Power requirements, volume and weight targets, costs, market sizes, and potential benefits for several fuel cell technologies and fuels are analyzed. The attributes of market applications are matched with fuel cell attributes to assess the market potential of fuel-cell APUs. Although data are insufficient and more analysis is needed, several market applications apparently could play key roles in introducing fuel cell technologies to the transportation sector.


ChemInform ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. no-no
Author(s):  
Gary M. Crosbie ◽  
Erica Perry Murray ◽  
David R. Bauer ◽  
Hyuk Kim ◽  
Seungdoo Park ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 1017-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuxia Meng ◽  
Naitao Yang ◽  
Xun Gong ◽  
Yimei Yin ◽  
Zi-Feng Ma ◽  
...  

Micro-tubular SOFCs have the potential to become light-weight portable auxiliary power units for aircraft or spacecraft.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Meißner ◽  
S. Weiske ◽  
D. Faidel ◽  
A. Tschauder ◽  
R. C. Samsun ◽  
...  

This paper describes a highly integrated catalytic burner for auxiliary power units based on PEM-fuel cells.


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