- Email: [email protected]
Acumentrics installs SOFC in National Park in Ohio
NEWS is completely self-contained, and does not require an external battery for startup. The new unit produces AC mains electricity, and simultaneously runs 12 V DC electrical appliances that are designed to plug into a car lighter socket. The European version produces EU standard 230 V at 60 Hz, while the US version is also available for producing 110 V at 50 Hz. The new-generation system offers several new features. An enhanced software controller has been incorporated with an internal microprocessor which monitors the fuel cell and optimizes performance. The data can be viewed directly by a Windows-based computer, or linked via the Internet or a wireless data connection. A data port on the side of the system enables remote monitoring and downloading of new software. The VE100 v3 now also boasts a new LCD display that shows the quantity of hydrogen left in the canister, and enables the user to program the fuel cell to operate in several different modes. Contact: Voller Energy Group Plc, Basingstoke, UK. Tel: +44 1256 813900, www.voller-energy.com Or contact: Voller Energy, Bremen, Germany. Tel: +49 421 220 97840.
DOE’s $64m in hydrogen R&D projects, biomass linkup with USDA
U
S Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman has announced the selection of more than $64 million over three years in R&D projects aimed at making hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and refueling stations available, practical and affordable for American consumers by 2020. A total of 70 hydrogen research projects have been selected to focus on fundamental science and enable breakthroughs in hydrogen production and storage, in addition to new fuel cell technologies. In addition, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the DOE and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed at the development of hydrogen technologies, particularly the more cost-effective production of hydrogen from biomass resources. The new DOE initiatives are part of a comprehensive portfolio of basic and applied research, technology development and learning demonstration projects aimed at significantly advancing President Bush’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Participants in the projects include more than 50 research organizations representing academic institutions, industry and national labs. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The projects address five technical focus areas identified during a DOE workshop in May 2003, on basic research needs for the hydrogen economy: • Novel materials for hydrogen storage (17 projects, $19.8m): On-board hydrogen storage has been identified by both the National Academy of Sciences and the DOE as a key technology for the successful implementation of a hydrogen economy. These projects will be awarded to 10 universities and six national labs, covering complex hydrides; nanostructured and novel materials; theory, modeling and simulation; and state-of-the-art analytical and characterization tools to develop novel storage materials and methods. • Membranes for separation, purification and ion transport (16 projects, $12.3m): Novel membranes are needed to selectively transport atomic, molecular or ionic hydrogen and oxygen for hydrogen production and fuel cell applications. The 16 projects selected, which include 13 universities and three national labs, address integrated nanoscale architectures; fuel cell membranes; and theory, modeling and simulation of membranes and fuel cells. • Catalyst design at the nanoscale (18 projects, $15.8m): Catalysts are needed for converting solar energy to chemical energy, producing hydrogen from water or carbon-containing fuels such as coal and biomass, increasing efficiency in hydrogen storage kinetics, and producing electricity from hydrogen in fuel cells. Nanoscale catalyst designs will be explored through 18 projects involving 12 universities and five national labs. Research areas include innovative synthetic techniques; novel characterization techniques; and theory, modeling and simulation of catalytic pathways. • Solar hydrogen production (13 projects, $10m): Efficient and cost-effective conversion of sunlight to hydrogen by splitting water is a major enabling technology for a viable hydrogen economy, and will be studied through 13 projects at eight universities, an industrial company and three national labs. The projects address nanoscale structures; organic semiconductors and other high-performance materials; and theory, modeling and simulation of photochemical processes. • Bio-inspired materials and processes (6 projects, $7m): Bio-inspired materials and processes for hydrogen production will be investigated through six projects at five universities and a national lab. Research includes enzyme catalysis; bio-hybrid energy coupled systems; and theory, modeling and nanostructure design. In addition, the MOU between the DOE and USDA will see experts meeting regularly to
share information on technologies and activities related to reducing the cost of chemically converting biomass to hydrogen. Biomass sources that can be used for hydrogen production include ethanol, crop and forest residues, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass or willow. This collaboration could help speed the deployment of emerging technologies, such as stationary fuel cells that can provide remote electric power for agricultural uses. The DOE and USDA are also collaborating through the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research & Development Interagency Task Force, part of President Bush’s National Science & Technology Council. The new MOU will strengthen this relationship and help expand the use of hydrogen technologies across the US. The full list of DOE projects DOE is available at: www.energy.gov/engine/doe/files/dynamic/ 25420051498_Hydrogen64MillionAttachment.pdf For more on the DOE–USDA linkup, go to: www.hydrogen.energy.gov or www.usda.gov/oce
Acumentrics installs SOFC in National Park in Ohio
M
assachusetts-based Acumentrics, a leading developer of solid oxide fuel cells and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) for the distributed generation market, has installed and commissioned a 5 kWe SOFC system in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, Ohio. This system represents the 19th SOFC unit to be shipped by Acumentrics as part of its beta field-testing program. This particular SOFC unit is being sponsored by the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in California, and local electric utility First Energy. The Cuyahoga unit is being installed outside a lodge building at the environmental education center in the National Park. The unit will be operated in a grid-parallel mode, but will have the additional capability of operating in an independent island mode. This latter mode will allow electric power critical needs of the educational facility to be met in the event of any power loss. It is planned to double the total installed capacity by adding another 5 kWe unit next spring. Acumentrics’ patented high-temperature tubular SOFC generation units are designed to run directly from natural gas, propane and
July 2005
NEWS other hydrocarbon fuels (such as coal-derived, hydrogen-based fuels) at standard delivery pressures, without the need for external reforming. This unique and distinguishing feature is based on a highly simplified in-tube fuel reforming method, which negates the need for complex external or co-packaged (and high-cost) reformation systems. The company’s investors and distribution partners include ChevronTexaco, Northeast Utilities, General Dynamics, NiSource, Sumitomo Corporation in Japan, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Acumentrics is one of only six companies in the US to be awarded and begin work under the Department of Energy’s Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) industry program. Advances made by the company under the SECA program are included in the 5 kWe SOFC system built for Cuyahoga. Contact: Acumentrics Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 781 461 8251, www.acumentrics.com For more information on the SECA program, go to: www.seca.doe.gov
Hydrogenics fuel cell for US Army armored vehicle, Purolator truck
C
anadian-based Hydrogenics has signed a contract to manufacture a self-contained regenerative fuel cell power system that will be used to provide auxiliary power for a US Army Stryker Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). In addition, Canadian delivery company Purolator Courier Ltd has introduced a hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle using a Hydrogenics fuel cell into its Toronto curbside delivery fleet. The Stryker LAV initiative is a collaborative government project, in which Radian Inc has entered into a contract with the US Army’s TACOM/TARDEC, and Hydrogenics has signed a defense industrial research contract with Defence R&D Canada, part of the Canadian Department of National Defence. Radian is responsible for on-board integration of the auxiliary power system, its testing and validation. As part of the 12-month project, the LAV will be tested and demonstrated for the US Army. The regenerative power system, an integrated configuration of Hydrogenics’ proprietary PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies, is designed specifically to extend the silent watch capabilities
July 2005
of the Stryker LAV. The electrolyzer component of the on-board regenerative system produces hydrogen, which is then stored and subsequently used, on-demand, by the fuel cell component. ‘The military is one of the early adopters for hydrogen fuel cells because it has special needs for quiet and cool temperature operations,’ explains Pierre Rivard, president/CEO of Hydrogenics. ‘In addition, a regenerative system such as this one removes the need to carry an additional fuel into the field. This contract will help us to further extend our capabilities in the field of military vehicles and equipment, with a goal of demonstrating that hydrogen fuel cell systems can provide a viable alternative to meet the military’s growing power needs.’ The fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCHEV) for Purolator Courier was developed in conjunction with Azure Dynamics, Hydrogenics, Industry Canada’s Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). In tandem with the launch of the FC-HEV, Purolator is developing an on-site hydrogen production, storage and refueling/dispensing facility. The Purolator FC-HEV is one of the first complete hydrogen fuel cell applications in a Canadian fleet environment, including everything from hydrogen generation and refueling to the power module. The FC-HEV uses a fuel cell/battery electric propulsion system that has been designed and integrated by Hydrogenics into a hybrid electric vehicle platform. This hybrid configuration increases fuel efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The other key element is the development of a hydrogen generation and refueling system, which can generate hydrogen cleanly from water using renewable energy, such as wind power. Fleet applications, such as at Purolator, represent an early-adopting market for hydrogen fuel cells primarily because fleets typically return daily to a central depot where they can be refueled. The Canadian government’s investment in the FC-HEV project totals more than C$2.6m (US$2.1m), including C$1.9m from NRCan through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, and more than C$770 000 from TPC through its Hydrogen Early Adopters program. The FC-HEV project is also one of the first in a series of strategic early deployments of fuel cell technology as part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Hydrogen Village program. The GTA Hydrogen Village is a partnership of some 40 companies dedicated to the development of a sustainable commercial market for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the Toronto region. Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com
IN JAPAN Biofuel cell uses glucose in blood as fuel A research group at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan has developed a biofuel cell that uses substances in blood as reactants to generate electricity. The miniature cell could be used to power sensors implanted in the body to monitor the health of patients, according to the group, led by Professor Matsuhiko Nishizawa (www.biomems.mech.tohoku.ac.jp). The device uses a non-toxic substance to draw electrons from glucose, a sugar in blood. ‘Since the electron mediator is based on vitamin K3, which exists in human bodies, it excels in safety and could in the future generate power from blood as an implant-type fuel cell,’ the group told the AFP news agency. Most other biofuel cells under investigation use a metal complex, leading to concern over their use for implants in humans. The fuel cell is 2 cm in diameter and generates some 0.2 mW of power using oxygen and glucose in the blood. One possible use for the cells is as a power source for a blood glucose monitor planted in humans, since an electric current running through the monitor would vary in proportion to the amount of glucose in the blood. Tokyo-based Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co took part in the development. The partners plan to test the biofuel cells as implants in animals in the next three years, according to a report in the Nikkei Weekly. Seiko Instruments develops micro fuel cell for cameras, notebooks In Japan, Chiba-based Seiko Instruments Inc (www.sii.co.jp) plans to commercialize a small PEM fuel cell in fiscal 2007 that operates at room temperature without requiring a heater or a pump, for use as the power source in notebook computers and digital SLR cameras, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily. The prototype PEM fuel cell extracts hydrogen from sodium borohydride (NaBH4), using malic acid as the catalyst. It measures 125 × 50 × 30 mm, and has an electrical output of 1 W at 5 V, lasting for approximately 8 hours on a single fueling. This micro fuel cell is made from three compartments: a box holding the liquid catalyst, a reaction chamber where hydrogen is extracted from NaBH4, and the fuel cell. As hydrogen is consumed, the pressure in the two latter compartments drops and a valve opens up, allowing more catalyst to mix with the NaBH4 to maintain the reaction process. As more hydrogen is generated, the pressure in both compartments increases again, and the valve closes. No pump is required, because the process works on a pressure differential.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
DOE’s $64m in hydrogen R&D projects, biomass linkup with USDA
U
S Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman has announced the selection of more than $64 million over three years in R&D projects aimed at making hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and refueling stations available, practical and affordable for American consumers by 2020. A total of 70 hydrogen research projects have been selected to focus on fundamental science and enable breakthroughs in hydrogen production and storage, in addition to new fuel cell technologies. In addition, a memorandum of understanding has been signed between the DOE and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) aimed at the development of hydrogen technologies, particularly the more cost-effective production of hydrogen from biomass resources. The new DOE initiatives are part of a comprehensive portfolio of basic and applied research, technology development and learning demonstration projects aimed at significantly advancing President Bush’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. Participants in the projects include more than 50 research organizations representing academic institutions, industry and national labs. 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
The projects address five technical focus areas identified during a DOE workshop in May 2003, on basic research needs for the hydrogen economy: • Novel materials for hydrogen storage (17 projects, $19.8m): On-board hydrogen storage has been identified by both the National Academy of Sciences and the DOE as a key technology for the successful implementation of a hydrogen economy. These projects will be awarded to 10 universities and six national labs, covering complex hydrides; nanostructured and novel materials; theory, modeling and simulation; and state-of-the-art analytical and characterization tools to develop novel storage materials and methods. • Membranes for separation, purification and ion transport (16 projects, $12.3m): Novel membranes are needed to selectively transport atomic, molecular or ionic hydrogen and oxygen for hydrogen production and fuel cell applications. The 16 projects selected, which include 13 universities and three national labs, address integrated nanoscale architectures; fuel cell membranes; and theory, modeling and simulation of membranes and fuel cells. • Catalyst design at the nanoscale (18 projects, $15.8m): Catalysts are needed for converting solar energy to chemical energy, producing hydrogen from water or carbon-containing fuels such as coal and biomass, increasing efficiency in hydrogen storage kinetics, and producing electricity from hydrogen in fuel cells. Nanoscale catalyst designs will be explored through 18 projects involving 12 universities and five national labs. Research areas include innovative synthetic techniques; novel characterization techniques; and theory, modeling and simulation of catalytic pathways. • Solar hydrogen production (13 projects, $10m): Efficient and cost-effective conversion of sunlight to hydrogen by splitting water is a major enabling technology for a viable hydrogen economy, and will be studied through 13 projects at eight universities, an industrial company and three national labs. The projects address nanoscale structures; organic semiconductors and other high-performance materials; and theory, modeling and simulation of photochemical processes. • Bio-inspired materials and processes (6 projects, $7m): Bio-inspired materials and processes for hydrogen production will be investigated through six projects at five universities and a national lab. Research includes enzyme catalysis; bio-hybrid energy coupled systems; and theory, modeling and nanostructure design. In addition, the MOU between the DOE and USDA will see experts meeting regularly to
share information on technologies and activities related to reducing the cost of chemically converting biomass to hydrogen. Biomass sources that can be used for hydrogen production include ethanol, crop and forest residues, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass or willow. This collaboration could help speed the deployment of emerging technologies, such as stationary fuel cells that can provide remote electric power for agricultural uses. The DOE and USDA are also collaborating through the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research & Development Interagency Task Force, part of President Bush’s National Science & Technology Council. The new MOU will strengthen this relationship and help expand the use of hydrogen technologies across the US. The full list of DOE projects DOE is available at: www.energy.gov/engine/doe/files/dynamic/ 25420051498_Hydrogen64MillionAttachment.pdf For more on the DOE–USDA linkup, go to: www.hydrogen.energy.gov or www.usda.gov/oce
Acumentrics installs SOFC in National Park in Ohio
M
assachusetts-based Acumentrics, a leading developer of solid oxide fuel cells and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) for the distributed generation market, has installed and commissioned a 5 kWe SOFC system in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park near Cleveland, Ohio. This system represents the 19th SOFC unit to be shipped by Acumentrics as part of its beta field-testing program. This particular SOFC unit is being sponsored by the Department of Defense, the National Park Service, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in California, and local electric utility First Energy. The Cuyahoga unit is being installed outside a lodge building at the environmental education center in the National Park. The unit will be operated in a grid-parallel mode, but will have the additional capability of operating in an independent island mode. This latter mode will allow electric power critical needs of the educational facility to be met in the event of any power loss. It is planned to double the total installed capacity by adding another 5 kWe unit next spring. Acumentrics’ patented high-temperature tubular SOFC generation units are designed to run directly from natural gas, propane and
July 2005
NEWS other hydrocarbon fuels (such as coal-derived, hydrogen-based fuels) at standard delivery pressures, without the need for external reforming. This unique and distinguishing feature is based on a highly simplified in-tube fuel reforming method, which negates the need for complex external or co-packaged (and high-cost) reformation systems. The company’s investors and distribution partners include ChevronTexaco, Northeast Utilities, General Dynamics, NiSource, Sumitomo Corporation in Japan, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. Acumentrics is one of only six companies in the US to be awarded and begin work under the Department of Energy’s Solid-State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) industry program. Advances made by the company under the SECA program are included in the 5 kWe SOFC system built for Cuyahoga. Contact: Acumentrics Corporation, Westwood, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 781 461 8251, www.acumentrics.com For more information on the SECA program, go to: www.seca.doe.gov
Hydrogenics fuel cell for US Army armored vehicle, Purolator truck
C
anadian-based Hydrogenics has signed a contract to manufacture a self-contained regenerative fuel cell power system that will be used to provide auxiliary power for a US Army Stryker Light Armored Vehicle (LAV). In addition, Canadian delivery company Purolator Courier Ltd has introduced a hydrogen fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle using a Hydrogenics fuel cell into its Toronto curbside delivery fleet. The Stryker LAV initiative is a collaborative government project, in which Radian Inc has entered into a contract with the US Army’s TACOM/TARDEC, and Hydrogenics has signed a defense industrial research contract with Defence R&D Canada, part of the Canadian Department of National Defence. Radian is responsible for on-board integration of the auxiliary power system, its testing and validation. As part of the 12-month project, the LAV will be tested and demonstrated for the US Army. The regenerative power system, an integrated configuration of Hydrogenics’ proprietary PEM fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies, is designed specifically to extend the silent watch capabilities
July 2005
of the Stryker LAV. The electrolyzer component of the on-board regenerative system produces hydrogen, which is then stored and subsequently used, on-demand, by the fuel cell component. ‘The military is one of the early adopters for hydrogen fuel cells because it has special needs for quiet and cool temperature operations,’ explains Pierre Rivard, president/CEO of Hydrogenics. ‘In addition, a regenerative system such as this one removes the need to carry an additional fuel into the field. This contract will help us to further extend our capabilities in the field of military vehicles and equipment, with a goal of demonstrating that hydrogen fuel cell systems can provide a viable alternative to meet the military’s growing power needs.’ The fuel-cell hybrid electric vehicle (FCHEV) for Purolator Courier was developed in conjunction with Azure Dynamics, Hydrogenics, Industry Canada’s Technology Partnerships Canada (TPC) program and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). In tandem with the launch of the FC-HEV, Purolator is developing an on-site hydrogen production, storage and refueling/dispensing facility. The Purolator FC-HEV is one of the first complete hydrogen fuel cell applications in a Canadian fleet environment, including everything from hydrogen generation and refueling to the power module. The FC-HEV uses a fuel cell/battery electric propulsion system that has been designed and integrated by Hydrogenics into a hybrid electric vehicle platform. This hybrid configuration increases fuel efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The other key element is the development of a hydrogen generation and refueling system, which can generate hydrogen cleanly from water using renewable energy, such as wind power. Fleet applications, such as at Purolator, represent an early-adopting market for hydrogen fuel cells primarily because fleets typically return daily to a central depot where they can be refueled. The Canadian government’s investment in the FC-HEV project totals more than C$2.6m (US$2.1m), including C$1.9m from NRCan through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, and more than C$770 000 from TPC through its Hydrogen Early Adopters program. The FC-HEV project is also one of the first in a series of strategic early deployments of fuel cell technology as part of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Hydrogen Village program. The GTA Hydrogen Village is a partnership of some 40 companies dedicated to the development of a sustainable commercial market for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the Toronto region. Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com
IN JAPAN Biofuel cell uses glucose in blood as fuel A research group at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan has developed a biofuel cell that uses substances in blood as reactants to generate electricity. The miniature cell could be used to power sensors implanted in the body to monitor the health of patients, according to the group, led by Professor Matsuhiko Nishizawa (www.biomems.mech.tohoku.ac.jp). The device uses a non-toxic substance to draw electrons from glucose, a sugar in blood. ‘Since the electron mediator is based on vitamin K3, which exists in human bodies, it excels in safety and could in the future generate power from blood as an implant-type fuel cell,’ the group told the AFP news agency. Most other biofuel cells under investigation use a metal complex, leading to concern over their use for implants in humans. The fuel cell is 2 cm in diameter and generates some 0.2 mW of power using oxygen and glucose in the blood. One possible use for the cells is as a power source for a blood glucose monitor planted in humans, since an electric current running through the monitor would vary in proportion to the amount of glucose in the blood. Tokyo-based Daiichi Pure Chemicals Co took part in the development. The partners plan to test the biofuel cells as implants in animals in the next three years, according to a report in the Nikkei Weekly. Seiko Instruments develops micro fuel cell for cameras, notebooks In Japan, Chiba-based Seiko Instruments Inc (www.sii.co.jp) plans to commercialize a small PEM fuel cell in fiscal 2007 that operates at room temperature without requiring a heater or a pump, for use as the power source in notebook computers and digital SLR cameras, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily. The prototype PEM fuel cell extracts hydrogen from sodium borohydride (NaBH4), using malic acid as the catalyst. It measures 125 × 50 × 30 mm, and has an electrical output of 1 W at 5 V, lasting for approximately 8 hours on a single fueling. This micro fuel cell is made from three compartments: a box holding the liquid catalyst, a reaction chamber where hydrogen is extracted from NaBH4, and the fuel cell. As hydrogen is consumed, the pressure in the two latter compartments drops and a valve opens up, allowing more catalyst to mix with the NaBH4 to maintain the reaction process. As more hydrogen is generated, the pressure in both compartments increases again, and the valve closes. No pump is required, because the process works on a pressure differential.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7