Fuel cells for transportation applications. Progress report, January 1-December 31, 1981

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5231996

Huff, J R ^[1]

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1. comp.

The aims of the program are to use the fuel cell's high efficiency, low pollution (both air and noise), and ability to use nonpetroleum fuels to develop a prototype vehicle power plant with the following characteristics: better than vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE); purchase cost competitive with ICE vehicles and superior maintenance cost; range, performance, and refueling time equivalent to ICE vehicles; and utilization of methanol or some other nonpetroleum-based fuel that can be easily distributed and stored. The fuel cell technologies currently being assessed for potential vehicle use are: phosphoric acid electrolyte fuel cells (PAFC); solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) fuel cells; and super acid electrolyte fuel cells. From these alternatives, one or two technologies will be selected for further electrochemical research with emphasis directed at the requirements peculiar to vehicles. In addition, a verification effort will be closely coupled with the electrochemical basic research program, which both have the objectives of reducing or eliminating platinum requirements, developing improved and/or less costly electrolytes, and increasing cell performance. The results of the assessments of the PAFC and the SPE fuel cell systems substantiate the technical feasibility of using these two systems in vehicular applications. Initial results indicate substantial energy savings from using fuel cell power plants in heavy-duty freight locomotives and inland waterway push-tow boats. More information is needed on the operational duty cycles of these applications to complete the assessment and suggest what research is required. Adsorption studies on cathodes in various acids confirmed the concept that to improve the oxygen electrode performances, neutral or anionic species must not be allowed to adsorb. Various means of achieving this are being explored. (WHK)

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5231996
• Report Number(s): LA-9387-PR; ON: DE82019494
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
AUTOMOBILES
BUSES
COST
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
HYBRID ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
PERFORMANCE
PHOSPHORIC ACID
PLATINUM
SHIPS
SIMULATION
SULFONIC ACIDS
TRAINS
CATALYSTS
CHEMISTRY
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
METALS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
VEHICLES
300501* - Fuel Cells- Design & Development
300504 - Fuel Cells- Applications
330300 - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems