Project Description
The Integrated Project FELICITAS is part of the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Reasearch Area. The starting point was April 2005 and it has a duration of three years. The main challenge is the development of fuel cell (FC) drive trains capable of meeting the exacting demands of heavy-duty transport for road, rail, and marine applications.
The two FC technologies considered by FELICITAS are
- Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell (PEFC) technology and
- Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology.
The essential requirements for heavy duty transport are:
- power levels above 200 kW,
- power density about 200 kW/t,
- system efficiency about 60%,
- hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon fuelled,
- robustness and longevity,
- improved environmental impact and.
FELICITAS utilizes the technological synergies of:
- FC clustering
- FC hybridisation
The FC technologies will also be complemented by other technologies such as:
- energy storage devices
- dedicated technologies for thermal and/or kinetic recuperation, and
- internal or external fuel processing
FELICITAS will contribute to an improvement of SOFC technology by providing:
- SOFC technology for marine applications,
- on-board hydrocarbon fuel reforming technology for SOFC power trains, and
- gas turbine technology for hybrid SOFC power trains.
PEFC technology will be improved in a similar manner by developing:
- high power PEFC clusters for heavy-duty road and light rail applications and
- hybrid PEFC clusters with extended durability, efficiency, and increased power dynamics.