- Email: [email protected]
Fuel cell grade hydrogen from Praxair
NEWS Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government Economic Commission (MPG), which are sponsoring the agreement. Palcan is also negotiating potential joint ventures with Asian partners in China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore. Contact: Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd, 8624 Commerce Court, Burnaby, BC V5A 4N6, Canada. Tel: +1 604 422 8868, www.palcan.com
Growing carbon nanotubes for micro fuel cells A University of California, Riverside research team has developed a unique chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to grow carbon nanotubes on carbon cloth and carbon paper using an electrodeposited CVD catalyst, in work funded by California-based Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation (PFCE). The process has the potential to improve platinum utilization in PEM fuel cells. Low-cost carbon nanotube production is a key element in PFCE’s quest for micro fuel cell technology to replace batteries in portable computers, cellphones, PDAs and other personal electronics. The company’s contract with UC Riverside is for research and construction of a fuel cell prototype based on PFCE’s proprietary carbon nanotechnology. The university team is led by chemical engineering associate professor Yushan Yan. Contact: Dr Yushan Yan, Chemical/Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Tel: +1 909 787 2068, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation, 131 N. Tustin Avenue, Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693.
Reykjavik hydrogen station delivered, Norwegian transport hydrogen study Norwegian-based Norsk Hydro has delivered a hydrogen fueling station to Reykjavik, Iceland as part of the EU-supported Ecological City Transport System (ECTOS) project. The station is being built in collaboration with Shell, and was expected to be ready for use by the end of April. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The Reykjavik hydrogen station is the first result of the international joint venture, Icelandic New Energy Ltd, set up in 1999 by Norsk Hydro, Shell Hydrogen, DaimlerChrysler and the majority partner Vistorka hf. The consortium is studying the potential for replacing fossil fuels and developing the world’s first ‘hydrogen economy’, to base all the country’s energy production on renewable sources by 2030. The station will use Norsk Hydro’s hydrogen technology, including an electrolyzer, compressor and direct vehicle filling system. Norsk Hydro Electrolysers manufactured the electrolyzer that produces the hydrogen for the station. The 7m ECTOS project includes three hydrogenpowered fuel cell Citaro buses built by DaimlerChrysler, which will serve on normal routes in Reykjavik for two years. Norsk Hydro has now started production of a second hydrogen filling station, to be delivered to Hamburg, Germany in May as part of the EU’s Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) project for fuel cell buses. Meanwhile, the Norwegian ministry of transport & communications has appointed a group of experts to look into the use of hydrogen in the Norwegian transport sector. Elisabet Fjermestad Hagen from Hydro Energy, responsible for the business development of hydrogen as an energy carrier, will lead the group, which will submit its recommendations during the first quarter of 2004. The group will study how Norway can best contribute to the international development of zero-emission transportation technology, and in particular the use of hydrogen in road transport. The group will also provide an overview of Norwegian R&D relating to the use of hydrogen as a fuel in the transport sector. Contact: Norsk Hydro ASA, N-0240 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 2253 8100, www.hydro.com Or contact: Icelandic New Energy Ltd, PO Box 8192, 128 Reykjavik, Iceland. Tel: +354 588 0310, www.newenergy.is Or contact: Norwegian Ministry of Transport & Communications, PO Box 8010, DEP, N-0030 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 2224 9090, Web: odin.dep.no/sd
Fuel cell grade hydrogen from Praxair Connecticut-based industrial gases giant Praxair has launched what it claims is the industry’s first high-purity hydrogen grade for fuel cell applications. The new product offering is in direct response to fuel
cell manufacturers’ requests for higherpurity hydrogen. ‘The presence of contaminants like ammonia, carbon monoxide and sulfur compounds can harm the catalyst-coated membranes inside the fuel cell, reducing its efficiency,’ said Janet Coffman, VP of marketing and business development for Praxair Distribution Inc. ‘Praxair’s new fuel cell grade hydrogen, available in high-pressure cylinders, contains extremely low levels of these impurities, helping maintain the performance and reliability of these devices.’ The strict specification means that the new hydrogen fuel cell grade cylinder is filled only at certain Praxair specialty gases production facilities. A high degree of quality control from product source and cylinder preparation to cylinder filling and analytical testing, is key to achieving and maintaining reliable and consistent purity levels. Contact: Praxair Inc, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT 06810, USA. Tel: 1 800 PRAXAIR (within the US) or +1 716 879 4077, www.praxair.com/fuelcell
Fuel Cell Virtual Journal launched Building on its position as publisher of several key fuel cell related research journals, Elsevier has launched the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal to bring together the latest papers in fuel cell research. The initiative comes from the Journal of Power Sources, widely recognized as the leading international journal for fuel cell research, and which covers all aspects of fuel cells including science, technology, engineering, economics and environmental impact. However, the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal also highlights papers from more than 30 key journals covering various aspects of fuel cells, including Renewable Energy, the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Electrochimica Acta, Catalysis Today, Separation & Purification Technology and Solid State Ionics. The objective of the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal is to provide an edited resource and guide for a broad range and level of readership interested in following all aspects of the progress of fuel cells, with particular emphasis on careful selection of papers to be highlighted each month by Dr Christopher K. Dyer, North American editor of the Journal of Power Sources. The Fuel Cell Virtual Journal offers free access to the highlighted abstracts, research news highlights from the Fuel Cells Bulletin, a detailed events calendar and an email alerting service. Access to full-text of the papers is free to journal subscribers through ScienceDirect
May 2003
Growing carbon nanotubes for micro fuel cells A University of California, Riverside research team has developed a unique chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process to grow carbon nanotubes on carbon cloth and carbon paper using an electrodeposited CVD catalyst, in work funded by California-based Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation (PFCE). The process has the potential to improve platinum utilization in PEM fuel cells. Low-cost carbon nanotube production is a key element in PFCE’s quest for micro fuel cell technology to replace batteries in portable computers, cellphones, PDAs and other personal electronics. The company’s contract with UC Riverside is for research and construction of a fuel cell prototype based on PFCE’s proprietary carbon nanotechnology. The university team is led by chemical engineering associate professor Yushan Yan. Contact: Dr Yushan Yan, Chemical/Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA. Tel: +1 909 787 2068, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation, 131 N. Tustin Avenue, Suite 100, Tustin, CA 92780, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693.
Reykjavik hydrogen station delivered, Norwegian transport hydrogen study Norwegian-based Norsk Hydro has delivered a hydrogen fueling station to Reykjavik, Iceland as part of the EU-supported Ecological City Transport System (ECTOS) project. The station is being built in collaboration with Shell, and was expected to be ready for use by the end of April. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The Reykjavik hydrogen station is the first result of the international joint venture, Icelandic New Energy Ltd, set up in 1999 by Norsk Hydro, Shell Hydrogen, DaimlerChrysler and the majority partner Vistorka hf. The consortium is studying the potential for replacing fossil fuels and developing the world’s first ‘hydrogen economy’, to base all the country’s energy production on renewable sources by 2030. The station will use Norsk Hydro’s hydrogen technology, including an electrolyzer, compressor and direct vehicle filling system. Norsk Hydro Electrolysers manufactured the electrolyzer that produces the hydrogen for the station. The 7m ECTOS project includes three hydrogenpowered fuel cell Citaro buses built by DaimlerChrysler, which will serve on normal routes in Reykjavik for two years. Norsk Hydro has now started production of a second hydrogen filling station, to be delivered to Hamburg, Germany in May as part of the EU’s Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) project for fuel cell buses. Meanwhile, the Norwegian ministry of transport & communications has appointed a group of experts to look into the use of hydrogen in the Norwegian transport sector. Elisabet Fjermestad Hagen from Hydro Energy, responsible for the business development of hydrogen as an energy carrier, will lead the group, which will submit its recommendations during the first quarter of 2004. The group will study how Norway can best contribute to the international development of zero-emission transportation technology, and in particular the use of hydrogen in road transport. The group will also provide an overview of Norwegian R&D relating to the use of hydrogen as a fuel in the transport sector. Contact: Norsk Hydro ASA, N-0240 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 2253 8100, www.hydro.com Or contact: Icelandic New Energy Ltd, PO Box 8192, 128 Reykjavik, Iceland. Tel: +354 588 0310, www.newenergy.is Or contact: Norwegian Ministry of Transport & Communications, PO Box 8010, DEP, N-0030 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 2224 9090, Web: odin.dep.no/sd
Fuel cell grade hydrogen from Praxair Connecticut-based industrial gases giant Praxair has launched what it claims is the industry’s first high-purity hydrogen grade for fuel cell applications. The new product offering is in direct response to fuel
cell manufacturers’ requests for higherpurity hydrogen. ‘The presence of contaminants like ammonia, carbon monoxide and sulfur compounds can harm the catalyst-coated membranes inside the fuel cell, reducing its efficiency,’ said Janet Coffman, VP of marketing and business development for Praxair Distribution Inc. ‘Praxair’s new fuel cell grade hydrogen, available in high-pressure cylinders, contains extremely low levels of these impurities, helping maintain the performance and reliability of these devices.’ The strict specification means that the new hydrogen fuel cell grade cylinder is filled only at certain Praxair specialty gases production facilities. A high degree of quality control from product source and cylinder preparation to cylinder filling and analytical testing, is key to achieving and maintaining reliable and consistent purity levels. Contact: Praxair Inc, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT 06810, USA. Tel: 1 800 PRAXAIR (within the US) or +1 716 879 4077, www.praxair.com/fuelcell
Fuel Cell Virtual Journal launched Building on its position as publisher of several key fuel cell related research journals, Elsevier has launched the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal to bring together the latest papers in fuel cell research. The initiative comes from the Journal of Power Sources, widely recognized as the leading international journal for fuel cell research, and which covers all aspects of fuel cells including science, technology, engineering, economics and environmental impact. However, the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal also highlights papers from more than 30 key journals covering various aspects of fuel cells, including Renewable Energy, the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Electrochimica Acta, Catalysis Today, Separation & Purification Technology and Solid State Ionics. The objective of the Fuel Cell Virtual Journal is to provide an edited resource and guide for a broad range and level of readership interested in following all aspects of the progress of fuel cells, with particular emphasis on careful selection of papers to be highlighted each month by Dr Christopher K. Dyer, North American editor of the Journal of Power Sources. The Fuel Cell Virtual Journal offers free access to the highlighted abstracts, research news highlights from the Fuel Cells Bulletin, a detailed events calendar and an email alerting service. Access to full-text of the papers is free to journal subscribers through ScienceDirect
May 2003