ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) has unveiled a new hydrogen recirculation blower designed to optimize hydrogen levels for fuel-cell-powered commercial vehicles.
The blower recirculates unused hydrogen to improve hydrogen consumption and performance. The system is efficient as it draws minimum power from the fuel cell to reduce hydrogen usage.
The recirculation blower works with ZF’s fuel cell air compressor, announced in April 2023. The compressor delivers air to the fuel cell stack, facilitating the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. Together, these products form part of ZF’s Balance of Plant (BoP) portfolio. The hydrogen recirculation blower is built to be durable throughout the lifetime of the commercial vehicle, helping to reduce the total cost of ownership.
“ZF has applied its extensive expertise in system integration and air bearing systems to develop these innovative products,” said Dr Christian Brenneke, head of innovation and development at ZF’s commercial vehicle solutions division.
The blower is compact, lightweight and optimized for efficiency, being based on the turbomachinery concept. Its high-speed electrical motor can reach up to 100,000rpm, using air-bearing technology to eliminate the need for lubrication and prevent contamination of the fuel cell stack. This ensures optimal efficiency and high mass flows. The system also includes an integrated inverter that supports 800V high-voltage systems.
ZF’s hydrogen recirculation blower is compact as it uses a patented electric media-gap motor technology – the water separator is integrated directly into the device, eliminating the need for active cooling.
