1. Performance of electric forklift with low-temperature polymer exchange membrane fuel cell power module and metal hydride hydrogen storage extension tank.
- Author
-
Lototskyy, Mykhaylo V., Tolj, Ivan, Parsons, Adrian, Smith, Fahmida, Sita, Cordellia, and Linkov, Vladimir
- Subjects
- *
PROTON exchange membrane fuel cells , *HYDRIDES , *HYDROGEN storage , *HYDROGEN as fuel , *LOW temperatures - Abstract
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 min refuelling (for full capacity 12–15 min); (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 h 6 min and 7 h 15 min, for heavy- and light-duty operation, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF