Delphi Corp. and Peterbilt Motors Co. on July 22 announced the successful demonstration of a Delphi solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit (APU) powering a Peterbilt Model 386 truck’s “hotel” loads. During recent testing at Peterbilt’s Texas headquarters, the Delphi SOFC provided power for the Model 386’s electrical system and air conditioning and maintained the truck’s batteries – all while the Model 386’s diesel engine was turned off, according to the companies.
This demonstration, held in June, leveraged development supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and Fossil Energy Solid State Energy’s Conversion Alliance (SECA) program. Delphi says its SOFC technology directly addresses increasingly stringent anti-idling legislation and other proposals addressing commercial truck emissions, noise and fuel consumption.
Delphi says its SOFC converts chemical energy in conventional fuels directly into useful electrical power without combustion. A SOFC operates quietly and at a higher efficiency level than traditional internal combustion engines, according to the company; by limiting idling time and running a SOFC instead of the main engine, emissions are reduced, noise is nearly eliminated, and operators realize significant fuel savings, according to Delphi.
Delphi says the new technology will have the capability of using a variety of fuels, including natural gas, diesel, biodiesel, propane, gasoline, coal-derived fuel and military logistics fuel. In addition to its fuel flexibility, the SOFC will be compact in size, according to the company.
Peterbilt and Delphi say the test replicated a typical trucker’s day to evaluate the real-world usefulness and capacity of the SOFC:
“The Delphi SOFC passed this test, standing up to the demands of a typical truck driver’s day,” says Mary Gustanski, Delphi Powertrain Systems director of engineering. “We are encouraged by the performance of the demonstration, especially given the 95-degree Fahrenheit Texas heat. Additionally, we thank everyone at Peterbilt for participating in this evaluation and for echoing our enthusiasm for the further development of eco-friendly solutions.”
“The SOFC system provides a technologically-advanced solution to meet anti-idle requirements while surpassing expectations for reduced emissions, noise and fuel consumption,” says Landon Sproull, Peterbilt chief engineer. “This system has the potential to revolutionize future APUs by setting new benchmarks for performance and ease of operation with no adverse effects on the environment.”
The companies say the Peterbilt Model 386 was chosen as the test bed for the SOFC due to its aerodynamic and fuel-efficient performance. It merges conventional Peterbilt styling with aerodynamic design and has been recognized as fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly by the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program.
