Ruben Bruins, Aishwarya Aswal and Ad Oomen, research lecturers at the HAN, are considering building a tabletop model for a hybrid fuel cell drive train of a vehicle. The test rig should be a scale model of a real fuel cell powertrain.

Three groups of master students have already started working on the plan. These first parts of the setup have already been delivered.

The desire is to include moving parts on this table model, in addition to regenerative braking. There is a strong relationship with the HAN MORE (Modular Research Vehicle) project.

The plan is to use this tabletop-sized test rig in both secondary school, college and master’s programmes. For secondary schools, this safe setup could also be useful but we may have to make this test setup even more demonstrative.

For businesses, this setup could be very interesting. Many SMEs are currently in the process of transitioning to electrically driven vehicles, so more insight into this type of drive is very welcome.

What is the functionality of this setup?

• Safe due to small power and safely stored hydrogen
• Scalable with actual vehicles
• Insightful for mbo and secondary schools (e.g. simple tests based on an accompanying manual)
• Insightful for colleges and industry (more complicated tests and -modular- conversion to other, more complex drives)
• Insightful for master studies (such as optimising the energy management system)

In addition to the physical model, a software-based model is also created in Matlab Simulink.

Meanwhile, developments are so rapid that already 3 groups of master students have started working on this. Parts of the setup have already been delivered!

Source and photography: HAN