Fuel Cells at Watershed?
PRESS RELEASE of April 30, 2002
Once again Lucerne, Switzerland, will become the Mecca of fuel cell developers. From July 1 to 5 the fifth world conference "FUEL CELL 2002" will be even more international and significant than all four conferences previously organized by the European Fuel Cell Forum (www.efcf.com). About 500 participants from over three dozens countries will take part in two parallel conferences and a major exhibit of the most interesting fuel cell products being offered worldwide. The event is endorsed by the World Fuel Cell Council, the European Fuel Cell Group and Fuel Cell 2000 of the US.
The first of the two conferences, "THE FUEL CELL WORLD", is designed for the practitioner. It focuses on technical developments and interesting fuel cell applications. The conference further explores issues related to fuel sources, fuel storage solutions, initial entry product marketing and venture financing. New product introductions will be highlighted. Overall, the conference, as in previous years, is designed to create confidence in the application of fuel cells for everyday energy needs.
This year's scientific symposium, "5th EUROPEAN SOFC FORUM", is devoted to the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) technology. Over 170 papers in this area will be presented, making this symposium the world's largest SOFC convention to date. Never before has any electrolyte-specific meeting attracted more attention. For fuel cell initiates, this interest is not accidental but a clear indication of burgeoning interest in the "high temperature" SOFC devices.
In previous years, "low-temperature" polymer electrode membrane (PEM) stood in the center of interest. As the electrolyte membrane and bipolar plate materials for PEM fuel cells was readily available from suppliers, almost any talented tinkerer could build a PEM fuel cell and operate it on hydrogen gas. But while PEM fuel cells are easily constructed, the hydrogen fuel they require for operation is cost prohibitive. A solution for sourcing this expensive fuel at low price does not appear to be on the horizon.
The proponents of PEM fuel cells envision a world with a pervasive hydrogen infrastructure, the "Hydrogen Economy". But this clean energy future cannot be created overnight. Even leading PEM companies have muted their expectations for the dawning of a hydrogen infrastructure. Some had to revise their business plans and reduce their personnel. Instead of pilot production series, activities have stalled with prototype development. Instead of stationary power plants in the 100 kW class, PEM fuel cell manufacturers now offer portable generators in the low-kilowatt power ranges. In fact, several fuel cells producers have already been forced to either shut down or merge with larger companies.
Hydrogen ? not a Product of Nature
Hydrogen is, simply put, not a product of nature but must be fabricated via electrolysis from water. High-grade electric power is needed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reversal of the hydrogen oxidation requires at least 50% more energy than is contained in the generated hydrogen. Fuel cells can convert up to 50% of the hydrogen to electricity. Only 30 ? 40% of the original electrical energy is recovered in the process. But for storing and transporting, hydrogen must be compressed or liquefied. Fifteen to 20% of its energy content is needed for compression, and 50% for liquefaction. Another 10% of the energy content is needed for transport by tank trucks, pipelines to end users. Also, the transmission of electricity to onsite electrolysers requires energy and hydrogen is lost by leaks and evaporation. All in all, from an energy point of view the Hydrogen Economy will be unaffordable. In all cases the end-user receives only a small fraction of the original high grade electrical energy that can also be distributed to end users by copper wires.
The envisioned Hydrogen Economy, therefore, is not necessarily a victim of technical hurdles or excessive cost of production and transportation, it is simply irresponsible to waste energy, even if it is of renewable origin, perhaps the only reliable and clean sources of energy in a distant future.
Hydrogen as a fuel will nevertheless continue to grow in importance. It is basically an ideal fuel. Hydrogen combined with ambient air (oxygen) results in potable water as an exhaust. A more environmentally friendly fuel is hardly imaginable. Also, hydrogen is perhaps the best link between renewable physical energy sources (kinetic energy from wind and water, solar radiation, geothermal heat) and chemical energy for portable, stationary and mobile applications.
Today, more than 80 percent of the world's energy needs are met by chemical energy sources. The world needs liquid fuels for many applications including transportation. To meet this demand, hydrogen must be bonded to carbon atoms to form synthetic liquid fuels similar to gasoline or diesel oil. Because of its physical characteristics, hydrogen itself remains difficult to store, transport, distribute and market. However, chemically bound in some liquid synthetic fuel, hydrogen can easily be stored, transported and handled. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis can be used to add hydrogen to biomass or sequestered carbon dioxide and to produce hydrogen-rich synthetic fuels such as methanol or other liquid hydrocarbons. Chemistry offers a number of formulas of synthetic fuels similar to gasoline or diesel fuel. Just recall, a liter of methanol contains more hydrogen than a liter of liquid hydrogen!
Methanol ? the Fuel of Transition
Undisputed fuel of choice for the next several decades will be natural gas. The economy and low emissions associated with natural gas suggest that the energy industry will substitute the natural methane with synthetic fuels produced from closed-loop, renewable resources rather than hydrogen. Closed-loop fuels are "good" fuels, since they do not contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming. For a number of reasons a "Methanol Economy" is more likely to come than a "Hydrogen Economy". From an environmental perspective, both are equally acceptable, but from an energy point of view the first of the two is by far the better option.
Decoupling from the vision of a "Hydrogen Economy", however, creates new perspectives for the fuel cell industry. Suddenly, the future belongs to the fuel cell that most readily digests carbon-containing fuels, not just pure hydrogen. Fuel-flexible fuel cells are the molten carbonate (MCFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Air oxygen must be carried through the electrolyte to the fuel, not hydrogen in the opposite direction as in acidic proton exchange phosphoric acid (PAFC) and polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.
The heretofore more popular PEM fuel cells need complex fuel reformers to convert hydrocarbons to clean hydrogen. But these chemical converters including noble metal catalysts and peripheral equipment add to the costs and lower the overall electrical efficiency of the system. Therefore, low temperature fuel cells will soon become a second choice. In the fuel cell industry, the test of strength between the competing fuel cell types has already begun in earnest. In Europe, Sulzer Hexis AG is already delivering residential SOFC cogenerators, while PEM devices remain in more of a prototype phase.
Fuel Cell 2002 Highlights
The unexpected high number of early registrants for the "5th EUROPEAN SOFC FORUM" is certainly an indication of the increased recognition being given to issues such as multi-fuel capability, simplicity, high electrical efficiency, etc., as described above. Power plant operators as well as end-users begin to realize that high temperature fuel cells are a better fit with the existing energy landscape than low temperature fuel cells. The virtual flood of more than 170 technical SOFC papers from major corporations as well as government, university and private laboratories is a sign of change in fuel cell development in favor of the high temperature approach.
The technical papers to be presented in Lucerne include reports of substantial progress, for example, in achieving high power output at lower temperatures. Where previously 1000°C was the norm for high temperature devices, already excellent output is being recorded at a mere 600°C, a temperature lower than that of a hot plate of a typical electric kitchen-range. At such lower temperatures new opportunities arise for the use of cheaper materials throughout the fuel cell system. Stainless steel replaces expensive ceramic components and ferritic materials replace nickel-base alloys. The heart of an SOFC device, the stack itself may soon be available at a price of approximately US $100 per kW.
FUEL CELL 2002 with the 5th EUROPEAN SOFC FORUM promises to become a watershed for the nascent fuel cell industry. In years hence, this Lucerne fuel cell conference may be looked upon as the dawning of the SOFC age for the power generation industry.
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Dr. Ulf Bossel
European Fuel Cell Forum
efcf.com ... original link
globalte.com ... more information about Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Re : "if we were to have autos which used much less gas, what companies could gain the most?"
Automotive Engineering International Online
SAE 2002 Congress World
Tech Briefs April 2002
Delphi fuel-cell APU for BMW ... (excerpts) ...
... Delphi Automotive Systems announced at the SAE 2002 World Congress that it and BMW are jointly developing a solid-oxide fuel-cell auxiliary power unit (APU). Applying the fuel-cell APU for transportation is part of a significant trend for the electrification of vehicle accessories. Many automotive systems are being converted to electric power to support cost, weight, and packaging objectives. Intermittent accessories, such as power steering and brakes, have already been adopted. ...
... The solid-oxide fuel-cell-based APU is a major shift in the supply of electric power for transportation. Its applications can include premium class automobiles, work trucks, recreational vehicles, fire-rescue vehicles, military vehicles, ships, and aircraft. The separation of onboard electricity production from the vehicle's internal-combustion engine is consistent with providing increased comfort to the customer in an efficient, clean way. Solid-oxide fuel-cell technology also is easily applicable to stationary power. Residential primary and back-up power, distributed power, and co-generation are achievable with any liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon fuel. ...
sae.org ... complete report with cool picture of
Global Thermoelectric's Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in a box
2002-01-04 - Dana, Global Thermoelectric Sign MOU
Calgary - Dana Corporation and Global Thermoelectric, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to refine the performance and reduce manufacturing costs of Global's proprietary fuel cell systems. A Global release indicated the agreement will bring Dana's expertise with high volume manufacturing together with Global's experience in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) design to simplify and reduce the cost of producing SOFC systems. Fuel cells have great potential for both vehicle and stationary power generation applications, because of their ability to generate power and heat efficiently with hydrogen fuel, while producing only water vapor as a byproduct. A major hurdle to expanding the use of hydrogen fuels is distribution. SOFC technology extracts hydrogen from bonded chemical metal wafers or sandwiches, and holds promise for overcoming the distribution problem more easily than compressed or liquid hydrogen, because of its comparatively greater level of safety and convenience.
calstart.org ... original report |
