BOARD MEETING DATE: May 7, 2010
AGENDA NO. 8

PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Develop Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid System for On-Board Locomotive Applications

SYNOPSIS:

The National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) has completed a review of Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Hybrid technology for both long haul and mixed-mode locomotive applications. The proposed project will develop a proof-of-concept solid oxide fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid (SOFC-GT) system for use on board a locomotive and establish a conceptual design for real-world demonstration. This action is to execute a contract with UCI in an amount not to exceed $78,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund. The total cost of the proposed project is $156,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, April 16, 2010, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Chairman to execute a contract with University of California, Irvine to develop a proof-of-concept SOFC-GT on board a locomotive and establish a conceptual design for real-world demonstration in an amount not to exceed $78,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (31).
 

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

The AQMD has long sponsored the development and deployment of fuel cell systems for mobile and stationary applications. One specific, high-temperature technology, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), holds particular interest due to its potential for coupling with other existing technologies, such as gas turbines, to increase the overall system efficiency. In 1999, the AQMD cosponsored a project with the Department of Energy and others to develop and demonstrate a 250 kW SOFC-gas turbine (GT) stationary power plant at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). This project was the first-ever demonstration of a SOFC-GT hybrid and achieved a world record fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 53% for this class-size power plant. Although this project was successfully completed in 2003, there is renewed interest in applying a similar technology for heavy-duty, mobile applications.

The key advantage to SOFCs over other current fuel cell technologies used in mobile applications is its fuel flexibility. The higher operating temperature of SOFCs and nature of materials used in the fuel cell allow for the direct internal reforming of hydrocarbon based fuels. Automotive fuel cell systems use proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, which require high-purity hydrogen, as impurities such as CO can cause significant degradation to the life and performance of the fuel cell. SOFCs are less sensitive to impurities in the fuel. This has the advantage of lower capital and maintenance costs required for pre-reformers and gas cleaning systems required for fuel cell technology requiring high purity hydrogen. As mentioned previously, SOFCs when combined with gas turbines can achieve system efficiencies exceeding 70% at larger capacity levels.

The National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) at UCI has conducted research under a National Science Foundation grant to critically review the potential of fuel cell-gas turbine hybrid technology for powering locomotives. UCI has secured the collaboration of Union Pacific and General Electric, with each entity providing their expertise and experience to identify the needs of the rail industry and ensure the analysis conducted by NFCRC will meet practical requirements.

Proposal

This action is to execute a contract with UCI to develop a proof-of-concept SOFC-GT system analysis on board a locomotive and establish a conceptual design for real world demonstration in an amount not to exceed $78,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund (31). The proposed project will build upon UCI’s previous study. When implemented in a real-world application, this technology has the potential to replace existing diesel locomotives and provide high-efficiency electrical power to propel locomotives.

This research study will be conducted by UCI in collaboration with AQMD and CARB. The initial stage of the project will be to develop a proof-of-concept system analysis. This will be used for conceptual design of the system power unit and peripheral systems such as thermal management, control systems, and traction systems. MATLAB SIMULINK software will be used for modeling system optimization. A final conceptual design will be developed to address system performance, emissions, load capability and overall locomotive performance operating within the South Coast Air Basin. The entire project is scheduled to span over the course of two years.

Benefits to the AQMD

This project furthers the development of fuel cell technology for passenger and freight locomotive applications with the goal of accelerating the deployment of a commercial product. If successful, this project will demonstrate technology transfer of SOFCs utilizing currently available fuels on board existing medium- and heavy-duty diesel trucks, other mobile source, and stationary source applications. Thus, allowing for significantly reduced particulate matter and NOx emissions, fuel flexibility, lower operating costs, and reduced fuel consumption. This project is included in the Technology Advancement Office 2010 Plan Update under “Outreach and Technology Transfer” for technical review and assessment of advanced technologies, projects and proposals.

Sole Source Justification

Section VIII.B.2 of the Procurement Policy and Procedure identifies four major provisions under which a sole source award may be justified. This request for a

sole source award is made under provision B.2.d.: Other circumstances exist which in the determination of the Executive Officer require such waiver in the best interest of the AQMD. Specifically, these circumstances are: B.2.d.(1); Project involving cost sharing by multiple sponsors, and B.2.c.(1); The unique experience and capabilities of the proposed contractor or contractor team.

This project is cosponsored by CARB and AQMD. The details of the cost-share are provided in the following section.

Resource Impacts

The total cost for this project is $156,000 with the proposed AQMD co-funding not to exceed $78,000. The following table summarizes the funding partners and amounts for this project:

Sufficient funds are available from the Clean Fuels Fund, established as a special revenue fund resulting from the state-mandated Cleans Fuels Program. The Clean Fuels Program, under Health and Safety Code Sections 40448.5 and 40512 and Vehicle Code Section 9250.11, establishes mechanisms to collect revenues from mobile sources to support projects to increase the utilization of clean fuels, including the development of the necessary advanced enabling technologies such as fuel cells used in this proposal. Funds collected from motor vehicles are restricted, by statute, to be used for projects and program activities related to mobile sources that support the objectives of the Clean Fuels Program.

The outcome of this SOFC-GT locomotive study project can be transferred to other on-road applications such as medium- to heavy-duty diesel trucks, other mobile source and stationary source applications. This project qualifies under “Outreach and Technology Transfer” as outlined in the Technology Advancement Office 2010 Plan Update.