Quiet Reliable and Compact Fuel Cell Based APU (QRCFC-APU)

There are over 480,000 trucks on US roads, and each vehicle produces up to 20 tons CO2, 420 lbs or CO, 11 lbs of particulates and 250 lbs of nitrous oxides per year, when idling, and producing auxiliary power needed for the drivers comfort. A Quiet Reliable and Compact Fuel Cell Based APU (QRCFC-APU) is proposed to significantly reduce these emissions. The QRCFC overcomes challenges with current diesel fuel reforming and fuel cell reliability, when converting diesel fuel to power on trucks. Under the Phase I effort a QRCFC test article was designed and its critical reformer component was tested to show that it can limit reformate CO and sulfur contents to levels that are compatible with the fuel cell. In addition, an individual cell test showed that the fuel cell can reliably operate with the reformate generated by the reformer. These tests showed the feasibility of the QRCFC system. Under the Phase II effort, the individual QRCFC reformer and fuel cell components will be refined and scaled up, and the system tested at the 2kWe power level. Emissions, efficiency, reliability, and short term durability will be proven in these tests. In addition, test data and analysis will be used to project the performance of the QRCFC as a truck based APU, and both first and operating costs will be estimated. These results will then be contrasted with alternative APU, approaches, as well as simple truck idling. Under the proposed Commercialization Option, the QRCFC components will be further refined and capacity will be increased to 6kWe and the unit tested. Lastly, the 6kWe unit performance will be verified through testing at an EPA supported Verification Test Organization, which will help drive commercialization of the unit.