Fuel cell systems will play a central role in the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
Fuel cell systems offer decisive advantages over battery-based drives, particularly in heavy-duty transport and in agricultural and construction machinery, due to their high energy density and short refuelling times.
However, the efficiency of fuel cells can be impaired by air pollutants in the cathode path. Optimal dimensioning of the pollutant filter can prevent irreversible performance losses.
Optimised cathode air filters
In order to better understand how pollutant filters can be designed efficiently, ZBT and its partners in the KaLiBer project are recording harmful gas concentration on agricultural land, construction sites and in port areas and investigating the combination of air filters and fuel cells in situ. The aim is to use these measurements to develop future cathode air filters with the following features:
- Reduction of air filter replacement intervals
- Customised filter concepts for different applications
- Extension of the service life of fuel cell stacks
Our contribution
Within the joint project, ZBT is focusing on developing a test methodology for air filters on a laboratory scale and establishing the necessary qualification capacities. To this end, a test bench is being developed and set up, and high-precision analytics are being integrated to detect harmful gas concentrations before and after the filter element. Integrating the filter into the fuel cell cathode string makes it possible to test the filter performance under realistic conditions. This test setup allows us to gain insights such as:
- In-situ influence of harmful gases and filter types on the fuel cell
- Effects of air pollution on MEAs in non-road applications
- Harmful gas exposure at locations with high air pollution
Expected results and benefits
The experience and results from the project should enable a well-founded assessment of filter quality and a more precise definition of replacement intervals. This will make a significant contribution to the optimisation of fuel cell systems for applications in demanding environmental conditions.
The KaLiBer research project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the 8th Energy Research Programme.
Project title:
BMWK joint project KaLiBer – Development and verification of cathode air filters for stationary fuel cell systems in the maritime, construction and agricultural sectors; sub-project: Filter testing methodology and investigation of the influence of harmful gases on the cathode
Project coordinator
Hydac FluidCareCenter
Project partners
- Research Centre Jülich
- ZBT – The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center
- Zeppelin Power Systems
Project sponsor
Projektträger Jülich
Associated partners
- PowerCell Deutschland
- Orten Fahrzeugbau
- AGCO
Project duration
01.08.2024 – 31.07.2027
Funding code
03EN5043C
Fuel Cell Systems Department
