Increasing efficiency

Auxiliary power units (APUs) provide electricity when there is no access to grid power.

APUs based on SOFC technology typically increase efficiency from 20% in a small diesel generator to 40% in an SOFC APU.

APU applications

Topsoe Fuel Cell is developing compact, lightweight, high power density stacks for APU applications. The capacity currently available is an electrical output of
2.3 kW with higher capacity stacks in the pipeline.

Fuel cell based APUs offer many different applications:

• on long-haul trucks generating power during breaks
• as a quiet and highly efficient power source for recreational vehicles and yachts

SOFC benefits

Compared to conventional diesel generators, SOFC technology offers:

• high electrical efficiency reducing emissions and fuel consumption
• quietness and low thermal signature 
• higher reliability 
• virtually no NO_X or SO_X emission

Fuel

Topsoe Fuel Cell is developing SOFC stacks operating on road diesel and logistic diesel.

Other liquid fuels such as methanol or ethanol can also be converted into electricity at a very high efficiency.