PEM Fuel Cell Technology Considerations for Medium and Heavy-Duty e-Mobility

Authors

S. Ranieri, J. Rizzi, N. Joos, Accelera by Cummins, Mississauga:

Year

2023

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

This paper describes critical considerations in designing a fuel cell power module to meet the needs of heavy duty vehicle and industrial power applications. Fuel cells offer great potential to meet power requirements with zero emissions for energy intensive applications, providing necessary range, refuel time, and durability. However, new improvements in technology are required to overcome barriers to adoption, including ensuring reliability for demanding duty cycles, meeting high power requirements, and reducing cost to provide attractive value for customers. New improvements in stack technology are critical to meeting these challenging requirements, but improved vehicle level integration is also required. Cummins has focused on developing a scalable platform solution that integrates advancements in membrane ionomer composition, catalyst systems, gas diffusion media and stack design, combined with the latest advancements in overall system architecture. By fully integrating the stack, balance of plant and controls into a single building block, Cummins has developed a highly integrated package designed with volume manufacturing, cost reduction and ease of customer integration in mind. Additional technical features include freeze protection, freeze start capability and unlimited start-up and shut downs. Fuel cell technology has the potential to enable decarbonization of some of the most challenging applications like heavy duty trucks, but practical application of the technology requires a fully integrated approach to stack, balance of plant, and powertrain design.

ISBN

978-3-9504969-2-5