Roadmap Transport Sector Definition and Vision
Sector definition:
This sector is concerned with the transportation of people and freight, and the design and production of transport vehicles. The latter includes materials choice, motor design in order to optimise fuel demand and improve
recyclability. In a (very) short time-frame, proof- of-principle fuel cell cars can be expected on the basis of hydrogen which is conventionally produced. Major developments will be required in technical issues such as peek power, robustness, but also hydrogen storage and infrastructure. On the middle/long-term we will see the on-board conversion of (fossil) fuels to hydrogen. Additionally, reformer technology has to be modified and improved with respect to catalyst robustness, response time and reliability.
Description of the sector in 2010:
In 2010 the vehicles we use will be much more energy efficient, produce less noise and significantly less emissions, and they will be equipped with intelligent guidance and control systems. Gasoline engines will partly be replaced by (clean) diesel engines, which in turn will be succeeded by fuel cell engines, for which a new infrastructure is being implemented. Consequently, cleaner fuels, derived from existing refinery processes as well as synthetic fuel from i.e. syngas will be used in these vehicles. The preferred hydrogen scenario has been identified: hydrogen storage on board, hydrocarbon conversion or methanol conversion. The increased use of polymer, carbide and composite materials in car bodies has led to weight decrease and a further reduction in fuel consumption. Legislative measures have led to a virtually complete recycling of all vehicle parts. Cars, especially in urbanised areas, will be more oriented towards one or two individuals thus compact cars which are totally recyclable will gain market shares. More intensive use of ship transport, combined road-rail transport and freight transport in road trains will ease the load on highways. This is required to cope with the strongly increased volume of transportation. Air transport will also increase considerably, but aeroplanes will have a much higher fuel efficiency and will be much
less noisy. Airports will be completely integrated with other forms of transportation and will have fully automated baggage handling systems, in order to minimise transfer time of people and freight.
Overview of high-priority goals
The high-priority goals as defined, besides the general themes as described above, are: a. High-priority goal 1: Improved Car Efficiency:
The two main options in reaching this goal are:
- Lean Burn (high oxygen / fuel ratio). This option, which is typically valid for diesel cars, gives a higher fuel efficiency. The issue is that catalysts will have to be developed that work under these conditions, as a traditional 3-way catalyst needs richer oxygen-fuel ratios. Therefore, this goal is actually an emission issue, and it is already discussed under the general theme gaseous emissions. - New engine/fuel combinations (hydrogen,
methane, methanol). This is a broad topic, and many parallel routes can be envisaged, but a main theme is the fuel cell car. Fuel cells are clean, fuel-efficient and fuel-flexible. However, there are quite a few hurdles on the way to using them. First, a choice has to be made between the fuels that the car has on board. Either hydrogen can be used directly, or a hydrocarbon fuel is converted on-board in a hydrogen-rich feed gas for the fuel cell. Second, low-cost components are necessary for the system to be competitive, requiring new low-cost, high volume manufacturing methods, and lightweight, compact and affordable hydrogen technologies will have to be developed. Finally, a hydrogen-based infrastructure will have to be realised. These developments will be long-term with
legislation as strong push-factor. The goal is a “proof of concept” car which is feasible as new generation vehicle. The type of research required here is highly interdisciplinary. Development Routes & Technologies
Graph I.7 provides an overview of the development routes (besides the general themes as previously described) in the Transport sector.
High-priority goal 1: Improved Car Efficiency
Goal related development routes in the area of reduction of aromatics are:
a. Short Term : Conventional Fuel ➔ Hydrogen ➔ Power in mobile applications. Specific issues with respect to:
- Robustness of catalysts, quick response time, reliability, requirements on fuel purity - The safety, size and weight of the combined
equipment
- Infrastructure for storage and distribution of hydrogen (this is covered under the general theme hydrogen)
b. Mid Term: Membrane / separation technology in combination with conversion (hydrogen enrichment, CO depletion). Combined catalytic functions in membranes.
c. Long Term (R&D to start on short notice/ongoing, result long term):
- Max. 10 ppm CO in hydrogen è two options for development:
- Reduction using fuel processing technology - Increased tolerance of fuel cell
- Improve fuel cell efficiency – decrease the activation barrier for the electrochemical reduction of oxygen
- Mobile applications fuel cell – reliability - Eliminate use of reformer – direct conversion
in fuel cell
- Replacement for precious metals. A CO tolerant catalyst is also required here.
Technological needs related to these development routes are:
Technologies in “Improved car efficiency”
Catalyst Design & Discovery
Catalyst Production
Process Design
Process engineering
Process Monitoring & Control
Table I.14: Technological focus of catalysis in improved car efficiency
1. Commercially feasible