Hydrogen Plant Module (HPM) and Vehicle Fueled by Same.

摘要

The goal / objective of the project was to design and fabricate hydrogen plant module (HPM) that is capable of producing hydrogen fuel onboard a vehicle and that obviates one or more of the present issues related to compressed hydrogen fuel storage onboard a vehicle, such as high pressure, weight, volume, cost, and conformability. To achieve this goal / objective, the project began with constructive simulations of HPM and vehicle, modeled entirely in software. Constructive simulation results guided construction of a standalone hardware model HPM as well as the hydrogen fueled vehicle. Once constructed, the standalone hardware model HPM was tested using hardware-in-the-loop simulation methodology, whereby simulated hydrogen demand data was uploaded dynamically to a hydrogen mass flow controller. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation results demonstrated ability of HPM to meet expected hydrogen demand of vehicle. The vehicle was also driven, with hydrogen supplied by a temporary compressed gas tank source, to confirm that actual hydrogen demand of vehicle was reasonably close to expectation. Finally, the standalone hardware model HPM was modified to be integrally retrofit to the vehicle. The HPM and vehicle fueled by the same were then tested in idle mode of operation, and then again in drive mode of operation, at a driving speed of 15.31 mph (i.e., equal to 30kW power requirement set forth by project advisor). Goal / objective of the project was achieved, having designed and fabricated HPM, having demonstrated its capability to produce hydrogen fuel onboard a vehicle, and having clearly demonstrated obviation of at least one of the present issues related to compressed hydrogen fuel storage onboard a vehicle that issue being high pressure. Note, HPM pressure was nominal 125 psig at all times during operation, whereas the total amount of hydrogen producible by the HPM, if stored onboard as compressed gas, would have required storage at 2000 psig. Now that HPM has been designed and fabricated, future efforts can be directed to further obviation of present issues related to compressed hydrogen fuel storage onboard a vehicle.