Basic study on fuel-cell-hybrid-electric-vehicle fueled by sodium borohydride

Abstract

Fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCHEV) is strongly attractive as a zero emission vehicle. However, FCHEV has not been used widely by current state. One of the reasons is the construction cost of infrastructure such as hydrogen gas station is too expensive. As a solution, several high-pressure hydrogen gas tankless FCHEVs have been proposed. One of them is FCHEV fueled by sodium borohydride (NaBH4). This paper shows advantages and disadvantages of NaBH4 at using this material for FCHEV as the fuel. Moreover, a novel hydrogen gas supply system fueled by sodium borohydride for fuel cell is proposed. In addition, the specification and drive characteristics of the micro FCHEV that is fueled by hydrogen gas from a tank and is constructed to compare with hydrogen gas tankless FCHEV is reported.

Hydrolysis Rate Improvement in Hydrogen Generation System Fueled by Powdery Sodium Borohydride for Fuel-Cell Vehicle

“…3. Fuel-cell power generation system configuration with onboard hydrogen generation system [11], [12].…”

“…NaBH 4 reacts with water and generates hydrogen and sodium metaborate (NaBO 2 ). The chemical reaction is expressed as follows [6]- [9], [11]- [13]:…”

“…3 [11], [12]. The operation of the system is explained as follows: The fuel feed unit has a fuel tank, which is a translucent tank on top of the fuel feed unit in Fig.…”

“…In contrast, the authors have proposed that NaBH 4 be used not in the form of liquid fuel but as a "powdery fuel" [11]- [13]. Hydrogen is obtained through hydrolysis of NaBH 4 in the presence of a catalyst.…”

“…3. The system can generate hydrogen continuously, with an average flow rate of 17.66 L/min, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell fueled by the hydrogen generated from the system could generate 1.5 kW of electric power [11], [12].…”