engleski

Performance of electric forklift with low- temperature polymer exchange membrane fuel cell power module and metal hydride hydrogen storage extension tank

We present test results of a commercial 3-tonne electric forklift (STILL) equipped with a commercial fuel cell power module (Plug Power) and a MH hydrogen storage tank (HySA Systems and TF Design). The tests included: (i) performance evaluation of “hybrid” hydrogen storage system during refuelling at low (<185 bar) dispensing pressures ; (ii) comparison of the forklift performances during heavy-duty operation when changing the powering in the series: standard battery – fuel cell power module (alone) – power module with integrated MH tank ; and (iii) performance tests of the forklift during its operation under working conditions. It was found that (a) the forklift with power module and MH tank can achieve 83% of maximum hydrogen storage capacity during 6 minute refuelling (for full capacity 12-15 minutes) ; (b) heavy-duty operation of the forklift is characterised by 25% increase in energy consumption, and during system operation more uniform power distribution occurs when operating in the fuel cell powering mode with MH, in comparison to the battery powering mode ; (c) use of the fully refuelled fuel cell power module with the MH extension tank allows for uninterrupted operation for 3 hours 6 minutes and 7 hours 15 minutes, for heavy- and light-duty operation, respectively.

fuel cell forklift ; performance ; heavy-duty operation ; hybrid hydrogen storage ; metal hydride

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