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AFC Energy fuel cell in operation at AkzoNobel
NEWS
Fuel cell power for Philippines cellular sites
Union College set for Plug Power residential field trial
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I
elecoms company Smart Communications in the Philippines is set to deploy fuel cell technology, as part of its ‘Alternative Power for Cell Sites’ program. Smart and an unnamed fuel cell solutions provider have successfully tested the clean power supply system at cellular sites outside Manila. Smart is initially planning to use fuel cell technology instead of diesel generator sets as backup power supply in six cellular sites, according to a Sun.Star Zamboanga report. Smart would be the first telco in the Philippines to use fuel cell technology to power its cellular sites. It will also test other types of fuel cell solutions available in the market. The fuel cell system that Smart recently tested is powered by a combination of 60% methanol and 40% water. Methanol is biodegradable, can be stored for a long time, and is easy to transport. ‘The fuel cell solution we tested has a lifetime of about 2000–4000 operation hours. This seems suitable if the fuel cell will only be used for backup power of a cell site,’ says Jun Costes, senior manager of Smart’s Network and Platforms Services Division (NPSD). ‘However, we are keen on seeing the developments that would take place in the fuel cell technology. Eventually, what would be most ideal is to have a fuel cell solution that would become the prime source of power for a cell site.’ A feature of the recently tested fuel cell system is on-demand conversion of hydrogen to generate power. When the grid is able to supply electricity to the cellular site, the fuel cell system is in standby mode. The system does not use hydrogen cylinders, which eliminates safety concerns such as hydrogen leaks. ‘When we tested the liquid fuel-powered fuel cell system, we noted that 200 liters of the liquid fuel can provide as much as 100 h of 2.5 kW power for smaller cell sites or up to 40 hours of 5 kW power for the bigger cell sites,’ says NPSD specialist Davidson Sevilleja. Although the fuel cell supplier was not identified in the report, the system size and the fact that it reforms hydrogen from a methanol/water mix suggests US-based IdaTech, in particular its ElectraGen™ XTR system featuring a PEM fuel cell with a liquid fuel reformer module. Smart Communications: http://smart.com.ph IdaTech: www.idatech.com
August 2009
n upstate New York, Latham-based Plug Power and National Grid, an international natural gas and electric utility, have announced that Union College in Schenectady will host a trial of Plug Power’s GenSys® residential PEM fuel cell system. This 5 kW combined heat and power (CHP) unit will convert natural gas into electricity and high-quality heat for the Beuth House residence hall on the college campus. As part of the educational outreach program included in this project, participants will also include Ballston Spa High School and Schenectady Museum. Both groups will engage students of all ages in fuel cell education and field trial data analysis. This project is a result of a partnership with the Department of Energy, announced late last year [FCB, January 2009]. Plug Power and National Grid will test the system in the real-life operating conditions at Union College. Collaboratively, the companies will use the critical data collected to determine system refinements for incorporation into the nextgeneration system design. ‘Union College is an ideal field trial site due to its support of advanced energy initiatives, efficiency programs and associated curriculum,’ comments Mark Sperry, vice president of Plug Power’s Continuous Power Division. ‘Moving our testing out of the lab and into the field is a pivotal point for Plug Power, as we push forward our agenda to commercialize our residential GenSys product.’ Educational outreach programs have already begun. In early July sixth and seventh grade students participating in Ballston Spa’s Gateway Academy spent an entire day learning about fuel cells. The program will include a tour of Plug Power, to experience the engineering, testing, development and manufacturing process of a fuel cell. Students will also visit the Union College campus to see the installation of the GenSys unit in progress. For the duration of the project, students will receive live data directly from the fuel cell site for analysis. ‘Giving the students a hands-on learning opportunity will allow for advanced understanding of the technology and why it’s critical for our future,’ says Joseph Dragone, superintendent for Ballston Spa Central School District. ‘We’re excited to be deeply involved
in this project, and it is an important part of our Partnership for Innovation in Education initiative.’ Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
AFC Energy fuel cell in operation at AkzoNobel
U
K-based AFC Energy has supplied AkzoNobel’s chlor-alkali plant in Bitterfeld, Germany with an AFC 3.5 kW alkaline fuel cell system. The power plant has also demonstrated electricity generation using industrially produced hydrogen taken directly from the chlor-alkali plant without pretreatment. AFC has now successfully completed its practical review of the installation methodology and system integration. The fuel cell system has been tested using standard electrodes, rather than the dummy electrodes in place when the unit was commissioned. The testing demonstrated the ease and speed of installation and changing of its electrode cartridge system, in the course of repeated startup, thermal and load cycling tests. The inverter technology was also tested, by feeding electricity produced from the fuel cell system into AkzoNobel’s power grid. The next significant phase will be to bring the fuel cell system to full commercial operation at Bitterfeld, by installing AFC Energy’s proprietary low-cost electrodes, and then deliver further fully operational systems. Work will continue both at AFC Energy and onsite at Bitterfeld to ensure progressive improvements to system performance, to achieve full design specification. In particular, AFC Energy’s work will concentrate on optimizing its low-cost electrodes on an iterative basis. ‘This is a significant achievement, and an important step in the rollout program of our fuel cells,’ says Ian Balchin, managing director of AFC Energy. ‘We have been working with AkzoNobel to develop a low-cost fuel cell system, and have greatly enhanced the design over the past few months.’ He adds that AFC Energy has commenced work on producing a larger, 25 kW+ system, as well as broadening its commercial relations in the chlor-alkali industry. AFC Energy Plc, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
Fuel cell power for Philippines cellular sites
Union College set for Plug Power residential field trial
T
I
elecoms company Smart Communications in the Philippines is set to deploy fuel cell technology, as part of its ‘Alternative Power for Cell Sites’ program. Smart and an unnamed fuel cell solutions provider have successfully tested the clean power supply system at cellular sites outside Manila. Smart is initially planning to use fuel cell technology instead of diesel generator sets as backup power supply in six cellular sites, according to a Sun.Star Zamboanga report. Smart would be the first telco in the Philippines to use fuel cell technology to power its cellular sites. It will also test other types of fuel cell solutions available in the market. The fuel cell system that Smart recently tested is powered by a combination of 60% methanol and 40% water. Methanol is biodegradable, can be stored for a long time, and is easy to transport. ‘The fuel cell solution we tested has a lifetime of about 2000–4000 operation hours. This seems suitable if the fuel cell will only be used for backup power of a cell site,’ says Jun Costes, senior manager of Smart’s Network and Platforms Services Division (NPSD). ‘However, we are keen on seeing the developments that would take place in the fuel cell technology. Eventually, what would be most ideal is to have a fuel cell solution that would become the prime source of power for a cell site.’ A feature of the recently tested fuel cell system is on-demand conversion of hydrogen to generate power. When the grid is able to supply electricity to the cellular site, the fuel cell system is in standby mode. The system does not use hydrogen cylinders, which eliminates safety concerns such as hydrogen leaks. ‘When we tested the liquid fuel-powered fuel cell system, we noted that 200 liters of the liquid fuel can provide as much as 100 h of 2.5 kW power for smaller cell sites or up to 40 hours of 5 kW power for the bigger cell sites,’ says NPSD specialist Davidson Sevilleja. Although the fuel cell supplier was not identified in the report, the system size and the fact that it reforms hydrogen from a methanol/water mix suggests US-based IdaTech, in particular its ElectraGen™ XTR system featuring a PEM fuel cell with a liquid fuel reformer module. Smart Communications: http://smart.com.ph IdaTech: www.idatech.com
August 2009
n upstate New York, Latham-based Plug Power and National Grid, an international natural gas and electric utility, have announced that Union College in Schenectady will host a trial of Plug Power’s GenSys® residential PEM fuel cell system. This 5 kW combined heat and power (CHP) unit will convert natural gas into electricity and high-quality heat for the Beuth House residence hall on the college campus. As part of the educational outreach program included in this project, participants will also include Ballston Spa High School and Schenectady Museum. Both groups will engage students of all ages in fuel cell education and field trial data analysis. This project is a result of a partnership with the Department of Energy, announced late last year [FCB, January 2009]. Plug Power and National Grid will test the system in the real-life operating conditions at Union College. Collaboratively, the companies will use the critical data collected to determine system refinements for incorporation into the nextgeneration system design. ‘Union College is an ideal field trial site due to its support of advanced energy initiatives, efficiency programs and associated curriculum,’ comments Mark Sperry, vice president of Plug Power’s Continuous Power Division. ‘Moving our testing out of the lab and into the field is a pivotal point for Plug Power, as we push forward our agenda to commercialize our residential GenSys product.’ Educational outreach programs have already begun. In early July sixth and seventh grade students participating in Ballston Spa’s Gateway Academy spent an entire day learning about fuel cells. The program will include a tour of Plug Power, to experience the engineering, testing, development and manufacturing process of a fuel cell. Students will also visit the Union College campus to see the installation of the GenSys unit in progress. For the duration of the project, students will receive live data directly from the fuel cell site for analysis. ‘Giving the students a hands-on learning opportunity will allow for advanced understanding of the technology and why it’s critical for our future,’ says Joseph Dragone, superintendent for Ballston Spa Central School District. ‘We’re excited to be deeply involved
in this project, and it is an important part of our Partnership for Innovation in Education initiative.’ Plug Power Inc, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
AFC Energy fuel cell in operation at AkzoNobel
U
K-based AFC Energy has supplied AkzoNobel’s chlor-alkali plant in Bitterfeld, Germany with an AFC 3.5 kW alkaline fuel cell system. The power plant has also demonstrated electricity generation using industrially produced hydrogen taken directly from the chlor-alkali plant without pretreatment. AFC has now successfully completed its practical review of the installation methodology and system integration. The fuel cell system has been tested using standard electrodes, rather than the dummy electrodes in place when the unit was commissioned. The testing demonstrated the ease and speed of installation and changing of its electrode cartridge system, in the course of repeated startup, thermal and load cycling tests. The inverter technology was also tested, by feeding electricity produced from the fuel cell system into AkzoNobel’s power grid. The next significant phase will be to bring the fuel cell system to full commercial operation at Bitterfeld, by installing AFC Energy’s proprietary low-cost electrodes, and then deliver further fully operational systems. Work will continue both at AFC Energy and onsite at Bitterfeld to ensure progressive improvements to system performance, to achieve full design specification. In particular, AFC Energy’s work will concentrate on optimizing its low-cost electrodes on an iterative basis. ‘This is a significant achievement, and an important step in the rollout program of our fuel cells,’ says Ian Balchin, managing director of AFC Energy. ‘We have been working with AkzoNobel to develop a low-cost fuel cell system, and have greatly enhanced the design over the past few months.’ He adds that AFC Energy has commenced work on producing a larger, 25 kW+ system, as well as broadening its commercial relations in the chlor-alkali industry. AFC Energy Plc, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7