As Background information, it is important to realize that COMPASS intended to build upon the FFG (Austria) MeStREx project. The platform MeStREx stack was to be developed and then carried over into the COMPASS project. Details of the relationship are seen in Figure 2. Furthermore, the important lessons regarding an APU system, operating on a 45% / 55% ethanol water mixture, were to be gained from MeStREx. Unfortunately, in MeStREx the MSC stacks were not delivered and this has delayed the delivery of the IT1 COMPASS APU system. In M18 of the COMPASS project, Plansee and Nissan exited the consortium.
Nevertheless, the COMPASS consortium achieved the following. In Work package 2 (Specification Development), a significant achievement was completion of the vehicle integration verification stage. All vehicle systems and layout are considered to accept the SOFC-APU. The consortium is very confident that, the process was considered adequately and this allows a degree of flexibility in the APU architecture and performance. This is clearly seen in the range and depth of content included in the deliverables submitted. In Work package 3 (APU system optimization) progress was made in designing and testing a state of the art integrated fuel vaporization and reforming component. Achieved also was a novel simulation tool for evaluating the temperature gradients and energy requirement for stack rapid heating. The effect of sending combusted fuel directly over the SOFC cathode for a rapid start was investigated and reported to the field. Identified also were solutions that will support the weight, volume and noise target requirements in the project. Even though the IT 1 System was not achieved, these achievements indicate that with new partners the realization of the IT 1 system can be achieved rapidly and to a degree equal to the originally planned system. In WP4 (Vehicle Integration) the important achievements were defining the APU to vehicle interfaces, the vehicle systems simulations and expert review, development of the LV and HV electronic systems, the packaging of all systems into the vehicle and the execution of vehicle operating strategy simulations.
In WP5 (Durability development & validation) a Design Verification and Validation Plan was generated using tools from AVL & input from the project partners. While the robustness of the Plansee stacks could not be verified, due to the delayed stack delivery, the basic performance of stacked cells in another stack design was investigated. Areas for optimisation were identified. In general, even though there have been significant delays, due to the lack of information regarding the eventual stack performance and operating tolerances, significant progress has been achieved that will provide a solid basis for future activity in the project.
