Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - December 2024 - 4

TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS
FILTRATION
Donaldson's filters aim
to keep fuel cells clean
One of the advantages of the internal
combustion engine is that it can function
with relatively simple intake air filtration.
Provided that dust is kept out,
air entering the engine can ensure that
the necessary combustion process
takes place. So, a relatively simple dust
filter will do the job.
By comparison, hydrogen fuel cells
The battery targeting the bus and coach segments is more focused on high energy density.
rich materials, improving energy density
and cycle stability.
When asked about the battery chemistry,
Akin Li, executive president of
CATL overseas business, told Truck &
Off-Highway Engineering that the same
lithium polymer chemistry has been
used as previously. " For buses, we are
more focused on high energy density
and for trucks it's more on long service
life, so we promote a long lifecycle. "
CATL also is committed to sustainCATL
is committed to sustainable practices
throughout the battery lifecycle, Akin Li,
executive president of CATL overseas business,
said at IAA Transportation.
modified surface of the anode materials
to improve reactivity and further suppress
side reactions. This is said to facilitate
the transmission of lithium ions,
helping to extend battery life by 20% or
more. Modifications to the cathode materials
include integrating high-structural-stability
active materials with lithium4
December 2024
able practices throughout the battery
lifecycle, Li said during his IAA presentation.
The company plans to reach net
zero in battery manufacturing operations
by 2025 and across the battery
supply chain by 2035. CATL thus far has
achieved carbon neutrality in nine of its
factories and has established seven major
recycling industry hubs.
" Our subsidiary Brunp Recycling has
ensured a circular economy for our
products, " Li said. " With a core metal
recycling rate of over 99.6%, we can
process 270,000 tons of used batteries
annually. Soon, it will no longer be a
dream to produce batteries entirely
from recycled materials, eliminating the
need for new mining. "
John Kendall, with reporting by Ryan Gehm
are far more sensitive to air quality.
Other pollutants can affect both fuelcell
performance and the lifetime of
the fuel-cell stack. At the recent IAA
Transportation Show in Hanover,
Germany, Donaldson Filtration
Solutions displayed tailored solutions
through its range of cathode air filters.
These typically rely on multiple layers
- including activated carbon, an acid
and base layer, and a dust filter - to
screen out sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
oxides and ammonia, while allowing
for customization to protect against
butane, toluene and other unwanted
compounds.
Donaldson's application development
engineer Tim Billiau told Truck & OffHighway
Engineering that one of its
latest air filters for a hydrogen fuel-cell
stack contains a pre-cleaner up front
that can be serviced and provides dust
filtration just like that on a diesel truck.
" Inside there are two separate elements.
There's a carbon pack for the
fumes and then we even have two outlets, "
Billiau explained. " For passenger
cars you have the small fuel-cell stacks,
low power. But for trucks and buses you
Cathode air filters contain multiple layers to
screen out sulphur dioxide, NOx and ammonia.
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CATL; DONALDSON; CATL
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - December 2024

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