New project

New project in Institute of Combustion Engines and Transport. At the beginning of 2019, the project "Adaptive control system for hybrid electric power generation to drive an electric vehicle" started.

The development of electric vehicles in Poland is conditioned by the structure and state of the power grid. Incorporation of a large number of electric vehicles is associated with power grid upgrade. Increased demand for electricity will directly contribute to increased carbon dioxide emissions from coal combustion. Therefore, it is necessary to search for new ways of acquiring clean energy for electric drives. The issue raised in the project is related to the development of an energy system dedicated to electric vehicles. The essence of the system is the adaptive control system of its individual components. Component of the system is a high-efficiency fuel cell powered by hydrogen produced from methanol using a reformer. The essence of the system is to ensure the continuous operation of the fuel cell producing electricity transmitted to the battery from which the propulsion system and the functional systems of the electric vehicle are fed. Continuous operation of the cell is essential to ensure its long life and efficiency. Continuous operation of the fuel cell also determines the need for a small fuel cell of approximately 5 kW. Therefore, the main objective of the project is to develop an adaptive energy system with a continuously operating fuel cell, powered by a fuel produced in integrated methanol reformer, from which the generated energy will feed the electric vehicle systems. The application of the proposed energy system will allow to unburden the electricity grid through powering electric vehicles by methanol – liquid fuel, which is considered as "hydrogen carrier" or "chemical energy store" and can be easily distributed using the existing distribution network of hydrocarbon fuels.