Webasto, together with H.C.Starck and Fraunhofer IKTS, is developing a diesel operated SOFC APU for vehicle on-board power generation. To meet the various challenges, such as demanding performance specifications, packaging restrictions due to limited space in modern vehicles, necessary cost reduction by mass production techniques, sharp restrictions in thermal and water management, and vehicle specific shock, vibration and environmental requirements, it is demonstrated that an integrated, top-down approach is needed, leading from application and system to a SOFC stack tailored for automotive integration. A similar approach will be needed for any other fuel cell system application. Operating parameters and material selection is primarily defined based on today's technology, considering that still huge efforts have to be made in scaling up from the laboratory to mass production. Material development itself is not considered as a primary part of the development program. It was shown that relatively small improvements in power density are necessary to achieve commercial viability. A second factor of similar importance is seamless system integration. The relevance of this approach is underlined by discussing issues like air management, temperature selection and soot formation. The stack design presented will address technical challenges of a diesel APU while still having the potential to successfully meet performance and cost targets for mass markets. Currently the stack is running in a thermally self-sustaining APU system environment. Within two years all APU components, including the SOFC stack itself and a 1 kW APU system prototype have been developed. Key system integration steps were made and the feasibility of the concept including dry CPOX diesel reformate operation was demonstrated. The current system is undergoing intensive testing and several component improvements. Thermally self-sustaining operation, various start-up and shutdown procedures including burner operated warm-up have been demonstrated. The SOFC stack experienced many thermal cycles and a significant number of redox cycles.
Integrated stack and system development for SOFC APU
Integrierte Festoxidbrennstoffzellenstapel- und Systementwicklung für APUs (elektrische Hilfsgeneratoren)
2004
13 Seiten, 8 Bilder, 4 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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