Perkins and Terex to Improve the Hydrogen technology

Five months after its first showing at CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Perkins’ advanced fuel-configurable hybridised IOPU (industrial open power unit) is being installed in an Ecotec TDS 820 shredder, bringing together Perkins and Terex to explore new technologies for environmental processing equipment.

Designed as a direct replacement for a diesel engine IOPU, the new hydrogen hybrid IOPU has completed extensive development testing and is now being fitted into the Ecotec TDS 820 shredder to further test the hybrid IOPU’s capabilities in the field. 

The Words of Andy Curtis

“Demonstrating in machine is a key milestone for the team,” says Andy Curtis, customer solutions director at Perkins. “Showing the system operating in a real-world application recognises the progress made over the past two years. From early in the project, we knew we wanted to work with Terex and its Ecotec environmental equipment business.

“Terex is one of the world’s leading OEMs for mobile wood processing, biomass and recycling equipment – which we believe is a great fit for the hybrid IOPU. We were delighted when they accepted our proposal and we’re now working together at our research and development facility in Peterborough to install and demonstrate the system.”

Project Coeus

The four fuels selected for inclusion in the project – ethanol, methanol, bio-methane and hydrogen – have one characteristic in common: they are all spark-ignited fuels. To utilise these fuels, Perkins has created a configurable spark-ignited combustion platform on which the project relies.

The project has developed a hybridised IOPU to deliver a robust and trusted fuel-configurable plug-and-play solution that produces reliable performance and is designed to meet global emissions standards, ensuring flexibility for the user. 

Insights From Ecotec

“Ecotec equipment processes waste materials such as wood waste, biomass and construction debris, helping customers recover reusable resources and reduce reliance on landfill,” says Conor Hegarty, business line director for Ecotec. “While our products are already making a positive environmental impact through the work they perform, we’re continually innovating to make the machines themselves more sustainable. Projects such as Coeus allow us to explore lower-emission technologies that can help meet future environmental requirements while continuing to deliver the power, reliability and productivity our customers expect from Ecotec equipment.“

“The Peterborough Customer Machine Engineering Team (CMET) are currently integrating the hydrogen hybrid engine into the high-performance shredder,” says Andy. “Once that work’s complete, the machine demonstrator will undergo a series of tests at our proving site. We’ll be looking to demonstrate the proof of technology concept and that it achieves the peak load demands and transient response requirements of the machine.”

He adds: “The machine demonstrator will also help us define how to handle and utilise hydrogen within a real-world jobsite environment. This learning will allow us to support our customers’ machine development goals during future project phases.” 

Technological Basis

• Based on the Perkins 1200 Series platform
• The 1206 hydrogen hybrid IOPU delivers a total of 379 kW (508 hp)
• The maximum torque is 1938 Nm at 1200-1500 rpm
• Thehybrid cooling system is designed to reduce fuel consumption and noise from the IOPU by utilising on-demand cooling technology.

What is an IOPU?

According to Perkins, the IOPU is designed for those OEMs that wish to enjoy the advantages and advanced technologies of our engines with minimum re-engineering. As a plug-and-play solution, the IOPU is an ideal way to power these machines, as they are ready to go.

Find out more about Project COEUS

Named after the Greek god of resolve and intelligence and partially supported by a £11.14m UK government grant through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, Coeus sees Perkins partner with UK engineering expertise: Loughborough University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, and e-powertrain specialists Equipmake.

Launched in October 2023, the three-and-a-half-year project is built around a commitment to develop an innovative ‘drop-in’ hybrid power unit, suitable as a direct replacement for the diesel equivalent.

About Ecotec TDS 820 shredder

Designed with independently-driven shafts, this double-shaft slow speed shredder is assured to give machine operators excellent performance in even the most challenging of applications.

Key features include hydrostatic drive that provides increased protection against contamination and allows for bi-directional shredding. The 2 metre long shafts are manufactured with a fully-welded tooth configuration, which makes for massive throughput and excellent material reduction. Its independent gearboxes enable each shaft to be run separately reducing material wrappage for effective shredding operations.