GLE Global Thermoelectric announces fuel cell breakthrough.
CALGARY, April 8 /CNW/ - Global Thermoelectric Inc. (TSE: GLE) today
announced that it has achieved record power output in the first test of a new
proprietary design solid oxide fuel cell. The breakthrough in materials and
construction will allow Global to address new opportunities in
telecommunications, automotive and residential power generation markets.
Fuel cells operate by chemically combining oxygen and hydrogen to produce
electricity with water as a by-product. They are much more efficient than
internal combustion engines and produce only small amounts of pollutants as
compared to other energy sources. Global's solid oxide cells have the added
advantage of being able to use natural gas or propane directly as fuel,
without complex external processing systems.
''The power output per unit of cell area at 800 degrees C from the new
design was 100% higher than any other we've ever tested'' said Global
President and C.E.O. Jim Perry. ''This high power density should allow us to
significantly shrink the physical size of future fuel cell systems to allow
much broader applications. We intend to file a patent application on the new
composite material design in the near future.''
''Conventional solid oxide cells operate at 900 degrees C'' stated Jim
Lumsden, Vice President of Research and Development. ''Global's new design
can produce significant amounts of power at temperatures as low as 650 degrees
C, a tremendous improvement over anything previously reported. We believe
that future versions of this design, optimized for performance, will achieve
even better results.''
''The output we have seen at 800 degrees C is almost double the amount we
have recorded on previous cells, and at 650 degrees C we are still making
substantial amounts of power. To the best of our knowledge, this material
breakthrough has resulted in one of the highest power densities reported for
commercial solid oxide fuel cells in the world to date. This fact is
important since operation at these lower temperatures in commercial cell units
will allow the use of conventional materials in the stack assembly. These
materials represent substantial cost savings over designs that operate at 900
degrees, where exotic alloys must be used to withstand the heat. Cell
lifetime will also be significantly increased,'' Global intends to use the
first commercial fuel cell systems to provide power in remote locations for
oil and gas and telecommunications applications.
Global Thermoelectric Inc. is the world's largest supplier of
thermoelectric power generation equipment for use in remote locations, and
produces crew compartment heaters for use in military vehicles. The
Calgary-based company is also quickly becoming a world leader in the fuel cell
development industry.
%SEDAR: 00002531E
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/For further information: Jim Perry, President and C.E.O.; Larry Kyle,
Chief Financial Officer; or Jim Lumsden, VP - R&D at (403) 236-5556/
(GLE.)
CO: Global Thermoelectric Inc.
ST: Alberta |
