From lab to practical: An ammonia-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system

Lingling Zhai; Chiu Shek Wong; Honglei Zhang; Pei Xiong; Xiangdang Xue; Yiu Lun Ho; Cuidong Xu; Yat Chi Fong; Jie Mei; Wing Wa Chan; Shu Chuen Ip; Shuangxia Niu; Shu Ping Lau; Ka Wai Eric Cheng; Molly Meng-Jung Li

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2022.139390

From lab to practical: An ammonia-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system

Lingling Zhai, Chiu Shek Wong, Honglei Zhang, Pei Xiong, Xiangdang Xue, Yiu Lun Ho, Cuidong Xu, Yat Chi Fong, Jie Mei, Wing Wa Chan, Shu Chuen Ip, Shuangxia Niu, Shu Ping Lau, Ka Wai Eric Cheng, Molly Meng-Jung Li

Research output: Journal Publication › Article › peer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ammonia (NH₃) is a carbon-free hydrogen (H₂) carrier because it enables liquid-phase H₂ storage and transport under mild conditions. Although the concept of NH₃-to-H₂ has been frequently proposed, the practical application of NH₃ as the energy source for H₂ power automotive systems is rarely reported. In this work, an NH₃-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system was developed and demonstrated as a proof of concept for NH₃-powered fuel cell vehicles. The integration of NH₃ cracker (installed with catalyst), gas purifier, fuel cell, and energy management system formed a successful powertrain that thrusts a golf cart into motion. The catalytic performance of both nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe)-based catalysts were measured, and the optimal catalyst demonstrated a > 99.9 % NH₃ conversion at 600 ℃. The gas purifier was confirmed to be capable of removing the residual NH₃ for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The fuel cell, when powered by the cracked and purified gas mixture, revealed comparable performance and power output as compared with the pre-mixed fuel gas mixture (75 %H₂/25 %N₂), demonstrating the feasibility of the whole system. The integration can successfully power 300 and 600 W fuel cells and continuously charge the energy storage system, offering sufficient energy for a 3kW golf cart for>500 km at 25 km/h. This work is an innovative demonstration of an NH₃-powered fuel cell vehicle system, giving rise to a future reference and inspiration for the practical developments of NH₃-based H₂ fuel applications.

Original language	English
Article number	139390
Journal	Chemical Engineering Journal
Volume	452
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.139390
Publication status	Published - 15 Jan 2023
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Ammonia decomposition
Fuel cell
Heterogeneous catalyst
Hydrogen carrier
Zero carbon fuel

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry
General Chemical Engineering
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.cej.2022.139390

Cite this

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title = "From lab to practical: An ammonia-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system",

abstract = "Ammonia (NH3) is a carbon-free hydrogen (H2) carrier because it enables liquid-phase H2 storage and transport under mild conditions. Although the concept of NH3-to-H2 has been frequently proposed, the practical application of NH3 as the energy source for H2 power automotive systems is rarely reported. In this work, an NH3-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system was developed and demonstrated as a proof of concept for NH3-powered fuel cell vehicles. The integration of NH3 cracker (installed with catalyst), gas purifier, fuel cell, and energy management system formed a successful powertrain that thrusts a golf cart into motion. The catalytic performance of both nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe)-based catalysts were measured, and the optimal catalyst demonstrated a > 99.9 % NH3 conversion at 600 ℃. The gas purifier was confirmed to be capable of removing the residual NH3 for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The fuel cell, when powered by the cracked and purified gas mixture, revealed comparable performance and power output as compared with the pre-mixed fuel gas mixture (75 %H2/25 %N2), demonstrating the feasibility of the whole system. The integration can successfully power 300 and 600 W fuel cells and continuously charge the energy storage system, offering sufficient energy for a 3kW golf cart for>500 km at 25 km/h. This work is an innovative demonstration of an NH3-powered fuel cell vehicle system, giving rise to a future reference and inspiration for the practical developments of NH3-based H2 fuel applications.",

keywords = "Ammonia decomposition, Fuel cell, Heterogeneous catalyst, Hydrogen carrier, Zero carbon fuel",

author = "Lingling Zhai and {Shek Wong}, Chiu and Honglei Zhang and Pei Xiong and Xiangdang Xue and {Lun Ho}, Yiu and Cuidong Xu and {Chi Fong}, Yat and Jie Mei and {Wa Chan}, Wing and {Chuen Ip}, Shu and Shuangxia Niu and {Ping Lau}, Shu and {Wai Eric Cheng}, Ka and {Meng-Jung Li}, Molly",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

month = jan,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.cej.2022.139390",

language = "English",

volume = "452",

journal = "Chemical Engineering Journal",

issn = "1385-8947",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - From lab to practical

T2 - An ammonia-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system

AU - Zhai, Lingling

AU - Shek Wong, Chiu

AU - Zhang, Honglei

AU - Xiong, Pei

AU - Xue, Xiangdang

AU - Lun Ho, Yiu

AU - Xu, Cuidong

AU - Chi Fong, Yat

AU - Mei, Jie

AU - Wa Chan, Wing

AU - Chuen Ip, Shu

AU - Niu, Shuangxia

AU - Ping Lau, Shu

AU - Wai Eric Cheng, Ka

AU - Meng-Jung Li, Molly

PY - 2023/1/15

Y1 - 2023/1/15

N2 - Ammonia (NH3) is a carbon-free hydrogen (H2) carrier because it enables liquid-phase H2 storage and transport under mild conditions. Although the concept of NH3-to-H2 has been frequently proposed, the practical application of NH3 as the energy source for H2 power automotive systems is rarely reported. In this work, an NH3-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system was developed and demonstrated as a proof of concept for NH3-powered fuel cell vehicles. The integration of NH3 cracker (installed with catalyst), gas purifier, fuel cell, and energy management system formed a successful powertrain that thrusts a golf cart into motion. The catalytic performance of both nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe)-based catalysts were measured, and the optimal catalyst demonstrated a > 99.9 % NH3 conversion at 600 ℃. The gas purifier was confirmed to be capable of removing the residual NH3 for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The fuel cell, when powered by the cracked and purified gas mixture, revealed comparable performance and power output as compared with the pre-mixed fuel gas mixture (75 %H2/25 %N2), demonstrating the feasibility of the whole system. The integration can successfully power 300 and 600 W fuel cells and continuously charge the energy storage system, offering sufficient energy for a 3kW golf cart for>500 km at 25 km/h. This work is an innovative demonstration of an NH3-powered fuel cell vehicle system, giving rise to a future reference and inspiration for the practical developments of NH3-based H2 fuel applications.

AB - Ammonia (NH3) is a carbon-free hydrogen (H2) carrier because it enables liquid-phase H2 storage and transport under mild conditions. Although the concept of NH3-to-H2 has been frequently proposed, the practical application of NH3 as the energy source for H2 power automotive systems is rarely reported. In this work, an NH3-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system was developed and demonstrated as a proof of concept for NH3-powered fuel cell vehicles. The integration of NH3 cracker (installed with catalyst), gas purifier, fuel cell, and energy management system formed a successful powertrain that thrusts a golf cart into motion. The catalytic performance of both nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe)-based catalysts were measured, and the optimal catalyst demonstrated a > 99.9 % NH3 conversion at 600 ℃. The gas purifier was confirmed to be capable of removing the residual NH3 for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The fuel cell, when powered by the cracked and purified gas mixture, revealed comparable performance and power output as compared with the pre-mixed fuel gas mixture (75 %H2/25 %N2), demonstrating the feasibility of the whole system. The integration can successfully power 300 and 600 W fuel cells and continuously charge the energy storage system, offering sufficient energy for a 3kW golf cart for>500 km at 25 km/h. This work is an innovative demonstration of an NH3-powered fuel cell vehicle system, giving rise to a future reference and inspiration for the practical developments of NH3-based H2 fuel applications.

KW - Ammonia decomposition

KW - Fuel cell

KW - Heterogeneous catalyst

KW - Hydrogen carrier

KW - Zero carbon fuel

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DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2022.139390

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85139061048

SN - 1385-8947

VL - 452

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

M1 - 139390

ER -

From lab to practical: An ammonia-powered fuel cell electric golf cart system

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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