Abstract
dc:descriptionMethanol fuel cell engines are regarded by leading automobile companies as a promising alternative to optimized conventional internal combustion engines in order minimize the effect of a shortage of fossil fuels which is caused by the increasing worldwide traffic. Nevertheless, some recent studies question the effectiveness of methanol fuel cell engines, as their total energy consumption (including fuel production) is judged less favorable than the energy consumption of optimized conventional internal combustion engines. This paper is trying to analyze if and how a methanol fuel cell engine can be optimized so that its total energy consumption is lower than that of an optimized conventional internal combustion engine. Only state of the art technology is considered for this study. The evaluation is carried out with a computer simulation model. It turns out that computer simulation models which were developed for conventional vehicles are unsuitable for the simulation of fuel cell engines. A specific fuel cell simulation architecture is developed to consider the special fuel cell system dynamics and the numerous combinations of fuel cell systems, energy storages and electric drives (fuel cell hybrids). A validation with measured data from a fuel cell prototype vehicle shows a very good consistency between the model and the real vehicle. The effects on energy consumption of the modifications on the fuel cell model are discussed as well as their interaction when applied in combination. An optimized energy efficient fuel cell drive train is derived. Additional energy efficient modifications cannot reduce energy consumption further. The energy consumption of the optimized energy efficient fuel cell drive train is 36% lower than that of a comparable optimized internal combustion engine drive train. A total fuel consumption of just 2.8 litres per 100 kilometres Diesel equivalent (3 litres per 100 kilometres when the vehicle weight remains the same) can be achieved in the NEDC. As a conclusion, it can be stated that methanol fuel cell powered vehicles can achieve an energy consumption as low as the optimized conventional vehicles, even under consideration of the well-to-wheel energy consumption.
Degree
thesis:*- Grantor dc:publisher
- IKA
- Year dc:date
- 2003
Author and committee
dc:creator, dc:contributor.*- Author dc:creator
-
- Spaniel, Dirk
- Contributors dc:contributor
-
- Wallentowitz, Henning
Subjects
dc:subject × 6Rights
dc:rights- Statement dc:rights
-
- info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
- Language dc:language
- ger
Identifiers
dc:identifier.*- OAI identifier oai:identifier
- oai:publications.rwth-aachen.de:59040