Beyond state of the art Efficiency by improving Balance of Plant components

The BeBoP project will achieve an overall increase in system efficiency and durability and a reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of fuel cell systems for heavy duty applications by providing for and incorporating improvements in key balance of plant (BoP) components -  air compression and humidification, and DC-DC conversion. Novel and integrated cell monitoring combined with advanced modelling will lead to overall architectural- and operational optimizations. The project brings together key component developers already actively supplying BoP components into the market (Garrett, Freudenberg and Silver Atena), with the specialist powertrain division of a heavy-duty truck manufacturer IVECO (FPT), alongside two leading European research institutes (SINTEF and DLR) with a strong records in the area of fuel cell systems development and modelling.

Novel key BoP components (air compressor, humidifier and DC/DC converter) will be developed from the current status of TRL 3 to TRL 5. The prototype components will be tested to prove performance, either on a fuel cell engine (for the air compressor and DC/DC converter), or at a test bench (humidifier), and iteratively modelled and improved with real time data. Collectively, the developments will bring about a significant optimization of both BoP and system level characteristics, addressing performance, durability and cost targets. Beyond this, next generation fuel cell systems and their scalability will be explored through modelling, involving improved compressor configurations and stack operation on enriched air to further increase system efficiency and validate the applicability to other heavy-duty segments of transport.

Through collaboration with its Advisory board, which comprises University of Groningen, Ballard, EKPO, IVECO, Damen, Seam, Isotta Fraschini, ZeroAvia and Lufthansa Technik, and the ScaBoP project, which is exploring the scale up of BoP components, this project will facilitate a strategic alliance and contribute to achieving the project's objectives.