Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1946/7711
Investigation of fuel cell technology for long-haul trucks
Almost 95% of transportation sector uses liquid hydrocarbons made from fossils as primary fuel. That sector is responsible for 21% of CO2 in European Union (Eurostat 2004) and 21% of Australian’s greenhouse gas emissions (Tasman 2004). Many improvements to conventional truck technology proofed that it possible to reduce emissions of SOx, NOx and particles by special systems assembled in vehicles but it is impossible to implicate sophisticated systems which can reduce to zero CO2 emissions because of huge dimensions and complexity.
Usage of hydrogen as energy carrier is considered as one of the most feasible and suitable for transportation. Instead of using hydrogen as a fuel for internal combustion engines where efficiency is constrained by the Carnot law, this energy carrier can be converted to electricity directly by electrochemical reaction in the device called fuel cell with high efﬁciency while not generating tailpipe CO2 emissions or other pollutants.
In this mater thesis study of feasibility of fully operational heavy duty truck powered by hydrogen is done. The most suitable technologies of powertrain components are investigated in order to create preliminary design of full-scale hydrogen fuel cell truck. Conducted research pointed that the most suitable technology for electrochemical conversion of hydrogen is high temperature PEM fuel cell. The most energy and cost effective technology for hydrogen storage seems to be compressed hydrogen at pressure of 35 MPa. Further investigation indicated supercapacitors as probably the most suitable technology for energy buffer. It seems to be effective to use hub motors instead of conventional driveline mechanism.
Calculation and comparison of gravimetric power and energy density for drivelines of hydrogen fuel cell and conventional diesel trucks is the next focus of this paper. Investigation showed that the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain can be comparable with conventional diesel powertrain in terms of gravimetric energy density. Advantages and disadvantages of innovative hydrogen drivetrain are presented. Additionally, the investigation of the best technology for refrigeration unit for semi-trailer which can cooperate with fuel cell is conducted.
This master thesis also includes comprehensive design of small-scale model of fuel cell hydrogen truck. Small-scale model was designed and partially constructed in order to demonstrate feasibility of hydrogen fuel cell innovative application and to deliver important information about performance and behavior of particular system elements of the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain.
The final section focuses on refueling infrastructure and possibility of direct introduction of hydrogen fuel cell truck technology in Poland. Modified powertrains which includes on-board reformer are analyzed.
Verkefnið er unnið í tengslum við Háskóla Íslands og Háskólann á Akureyri