Engineering:Fuel cell auxiliary power unit

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A fuel cell auxiliary power unit (FC-APU) is a fuel cell based auxiliary power unit on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are mainly used in trucking, aviation, marine and recreational vehicles.[1]

Market

In 2010 there were globally 3,100 fuel cell APU shipments.[2]

Trucks

Around 300,000 refrigerator trucks with auxiliary power units are on the road in the United States.[3] In recent years, truck and fuel cell manufacturers have teamed up to create, test and demonstrate a fuel cell APU that eliminates nearly all emissions [4] and uses diesel fuel more efficiently.[5] In 2008, a DOE sponsored partnership between Delphi Electronics and Peterbilt demonstrated that a fuel cell could provide power to the electronics and air conditioning of a Peterbilt Model 386 under simulated "idling" conditions for 10 hours.[6] Delphi has said the 5 kW system for Class 8 trucks will be released in 2012,[needs update] at an $8000–9000 price tag that would be competitive with other "midrange" two-cylinder diesel APUs, should they be able to meet those deadlines and cost estimates.[5]

Research

  • RDSO started a project to develop fuel cell assisted Auxiliary power units in diesel-electric locomotives of Indian Railways.[7]
  • PowerCell is testing an autothermal reformer and a PEM fuel cell stack to convert diesel fuel into electricity for trucks.[8]

See also

References