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Gold/Mining/Energy : Global Thermoelectric - SOFC Fuel cells (GLE:TSE) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: marcos who wrote (643)	4/17/1999 10:00:00 PM
From: michael a. rowe	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 6016

I only got rid of about 15% of my ballard so far. I did look at gle about 2 weeks ago based on their other business, but darn it...did not buy any. I am trying to find out more information about the company this weekend to determine whether I should sell some ballard and buy some. Havent made up my mind. mike

To: marcos who wrote (643)	4/17/1999 10:28:00 PM
From: Gulo	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 6016

Marcos/re energy density This is my understanding of why GLE's SOFC is so powerful: GLE's cell uses a ceramic membrane. By running the cell at 600+ degrees, hydrogen nuclei (protons) are stripped from natural gas (CH4) and enter the membrane to pick up electrons from the oxygen on the other side. The rate at which electricity is generated is proportional to the rate at which the protons can be generated and pass through the membrane. Ceramic membranes have been much less permeable than the type of membrane seen in PEM fuel cells. On the other hand, they can tolerate much higher temperatures. Things happen faster at higher temperatures. GLE's major breakthough relates to the composition of the ceramic. The fact that it can generate power at lower temps means it is much more conductive than previous technology would allow. It also means that it will pump out a LOT more power at the higher temps. GLE's cells have been able to generate electricity at the rate of almost 5000 watts per square meter since last March (i.e., a year ago). I'm not sure how much their recent work has improved that. To put this in perspective, one horse power is about 750 watts (746). The membranes are stacked, so a 10 layer stack with 10 cm X 10 cm (4" X 4") plates would generate almost 500 watts (2/3 HP). A ten-layer foot-square stack could power your lawnmower (4.5 HP). As it is, GLE's cell is close to an order of magnitude more powerful than previous experimental ceramic fuel cells of which I am aware (there may be others that I am not familiar with). The trick now is to see if they can make the ceramic last. By running at lower temps, they may have already solved that one. AARG! I wish it was Monday! ae

To: marcos who wrote (643)	4/17/1999 11:42:00 PM
From: blue_chip	Respond to of 6016

IMHO I believe half the size twice the power comes from the actual cell size only, Global incorporates internal reforming in their cell, Ballard incorporates external reforming. Internal reforming increases the size of the wrapper somewhat however I believe it is significantly smaller than the increase in size for external reforming. (oh, and weight). We should see this better technically addressed on the GLE site soon. The actual cell is only one part of the system. Think of it as a nuclear power plant, when they say cell it is similar to comparing it to the reactor core, not the entire reactor.