HYG-t...in the news:
Hydrogenics HyUPS power generator passes the grade
Tue 17 Sept 2002
News Release
Mr. Gary Brandt reports
HYDROGENICS COMPLETES SUCCESSFUL TEST OF FUEL CELL POWER SYST ...
Hydrogenics has successfully completed the test of the HyUPS regenerative
backup fuel cell power generator at a cellular tower site provided by
Nextel Communications. Hydrogenics installed the prototype HyUPS power
generator at the site in early July and subjected it to a rigorous test
protocol over a two-month period. The unit was required to respond to
simulated, as well as actual, power failures.
The 25-kilowatt, trailer-mounted, regenerative unit was commissioned within
the first day of deployment, and was operational from the first turning of
the key. The test protocol was designed to compress the profile of a full
year's intermittent outages into a two-month time period. During the test,
the unit's performance not only met the high expectations of the company
and the client, it also produced instantaneous power exceeding the quality
characteristics of the local utility grid during each power outage. Unlike
battery alternatives, the unit powered both DC and AC loads for the site's
electronics and air conditioning. To test durability in the event of an
extended outage, it operated continuously at full load for a period of four
hours. Deployability, higher energy density, zero emissions and rapid rate
of recharge proved to be the key advantages of the unit over incumbent
lead-acid and diesel gen-set technologies.
"We are very excited with the results of this field trial and about future
plans for this product," said Pierre Rivard, president and chief executive
officer. "This successful demonstration proves just how well the technology
does work, and supports a strong value proposition for providing critical
fuel cell backup power to cell tower sites."
This collaboration between Hydrogenics and Nextel demonstrates the
extensive portfolio of technologies available within the GM alliance
partners. In addition to designing and building the fuel cell power module
around the GM fuel cell stack, Hydrogenics was the system integrator,
bringing together the technologies of other GM alliance partners, including
Giner Electrochemical Systems and Quantum Technologies, for the purpose of
this alpha-stage product demonstration. Hydrogenics and Nextel are
analyzing the data and discussing the next steps in a fuel cell program. |
