Epyx Corporation Certifies Syntroleum Gas-to-Liquid Fuel for Use in Fuel Cell Power
SystemsCAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to develop the next generation engine for automobiles, Epyx Corporation announced today that it has successfully demonstrated high efficiency and low emission operation of a fuel cell power system using Syntroleum (Nasdaq: SYNM - news) synthetic fuel and a Plug Power fuel cell stack. Testing was performed under a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.This achievement follows a prior demonstration where Epyx and Plug Power tested gasoline, ethanol, methanol, and natural gas using an integrated system comprised of an Epyx multi-fuel
processor and a Plug Power fuel cell stack. Synthetic fuel testing showed results consistent with operation on
gasoline; however, due to their production method, synthetic fuels contain no fuel cell catalyst poisons such as sulfur, metals or aromatics. Like gasoline, Syntroleum fuels can be distributed through the world's existing service stations without modification.''This is an important accomplishment for several reasons,'' states Steve Chalk, DOE Energy Conversion Team Leader. ''Gas-to-Liquid technology is a great use of domestic natural gas, and light distillate fuels show the promise of high efficiency while preserving the ability to use the current fueling infrastructure. Further, the same fuels could be used for both fuel cell and internal combustion power
systems.''''Although our fuel processor can operate on conventional gasoline, the Syntroleum gas-to-liquids
fuel would allow Epyx to design a much more compact fuel processor,'' said Jeffrey Bentley, Epyx Chief Operating Officer. This program was initiated through DOE's participation in the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles. PNGV is a public/private collaboration with the primary goal of developing an environmentally friendly automobile that can attain up to 80 mpg -- without sacrificing affordability, performance or safetyn |
