- Email: [email protected]
CFCL to develop product for German residential market
NEWS for telecom exchanges [FCB, December 2005]. The trials of the first system of its kind in actual service in Europe have produced very favorable results, and TeliaSonera is now beginning an equivalent test on fuel cells for cellular phone base stations. TeliaSonera telecom exchanges are normally powered from the ordinary electricity grid. In the event of a power cut, a backup system – currently consisting of batteries and a diesel generator – will cut in. In the north of the Småland region, three telecom exchanges have now been equipped with fuel cells that can serve as backup for up to two weeks, which is much longer than today’s backup system can manage. Moreover, the environmental impact of the fuel cells is minimal. ‘We are very pleased with the results of our tests,’ says Dag Lundén, environmental manager for network & production. ‘We have gained a great deal of experience of how fuel cells operate in practice, and they are fully up to our expectations as regards reliability and reduced operating costs. If technology and cost developments continue at the same rate as in recent years, there is every opportunity that the backup power supply for the telecom network will be replaced by fuel cells, either wholly or in part.’ In Byarum, south of the city of Jönköping, TeliaSonera is now also commissioning a cell phone base station with fuel cell technology as backup power. In the event of a power cut, the reliability for mobile telephony will then improve, which will reduce the dependence on the power supply being quickly restored after storm damage, for example. ‘We continually endeavor to make TeliaSonera technology more efficient and environmentally friendly, and the use of fuel cells leads not only to better reliability, but also reduces the environmental impact,’ continues Lundén. Contact: Dag Lundén, Environmental Manager for Network & Production, TeliaSonera AB, Stockholm, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 5045 5000, Email: dag.lunden@ teliasonera.com, www.teliasonera.com
Nuvera H2 generation system for Pennsylvania
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assachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells, in a joint operation with East Penn Manufacturing Company, has installed its first PowerTap™ hydrogen generation system. This system is now in operation at East Penn’s Distribution Center in Topton, Pennsylvania. Hydrogen generated by the PowerTap system is powering a fleet of fuel cell-powered forklift trucks. The system has been implemented as part 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
of a field test of the new ReadyPower™ unit, which combines Nuvera’s fuel cell technology with East Penn’s advanced lead-acid battery design. PowerTap, developed as part of the Nuvera Total Power Solution (TPS), is a complete hydrogen generation system consisting of two modules: the PTG-50 hydrogen generation unit, and the PTH cascade storage system, compressor and indoor dispenser. These features of the PowerTap’s modular design allow for customized solutions while simplifying the installation process. The PTH cascade storage, compression and dispensing module can be used independently from the generation module. The compressor is a hydraulic intensifier that feeds the three-bank cascade storage/dispensing system at a peak operating pressure of 455 bar (6500 psig). The cascade storage and dispense system allows for a higher and more consistent fill pressure, up to 350 bar (5000 psi), with an average fill time for an industrial forklift of less than 5 min. Contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7571, www.nuvera.com Or contact: East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc, Lyon Station, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 610 682 6361, www.dekabatteries.com
CFCL to develop product for German residential market
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, a leading manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells for micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) units, has signed a new product development agreement with German energy utility EWE and Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH, a specialist German boiler manufacturer. The project partners will design and develop a fully integrated m-CHP unit specifically for the German residential market. CFCL received an initial order for its field trial demonstration units from EWE in July 2005. At that time the companies also signed a letter of intent to commercialize fuel cell based m-CHP units. Last summer CFCL received a second order from EWE, for 10 NetGen™ prototype units, as part of an ongoing field trial program [FCB, FCB, August 2006]. FCB Under the terms of the new product development agreement, CFCL will collaborate with Bruns to design and construct 1 kW m-CHP units to meet EWE’s specifications for the German market. The first stage of the project is to design and operate an ‘alpha’ unit, whereby a CFCL NetGen unit, a Bruns high-efficiency condensing
boiler and a thermal store will be integrated and operated via a single control unit. Work on this stage has begun, and is expected to be completed later this year. The second stage is to create a near-commercial ‘beta’ unit, comprising a single physical unit in which a CFCL fuel cell module is fully integrated with a Bruns boiler, without the thermal store. EWE’s participation in this project ensures the development of a customeroriented and economically viable beta product. Contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Or contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Chester, UK. Tel: +44 1244 893781, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH, Saterland, Germany. Tel: +49 4492 92460, www.bruns-heiztechnik.de
NCMS reports progress in fuel cell manufacturing
S
everal collaborative R&D teams coordinated by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) in Ann Arbor, Michigan have announced significant advances in the manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cells. NCMS project teams bring together member companies to collaborate on developing solutions for hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen storage manufacturing issues, and are funded through an award from the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program. The collaborative team of Millennium Cell (www.millenniumcell.com), Dow Chemical (www.dow.com), Edison Welding Institute (www.ewi.org) and NextEnergy (www.nextenergy.org) has developed manufacturing techniques for fuel cartridge components. Initial pilot runs were successfully completed in December, and the manufactured fuel cartridges were shipped to Jadoo Power Systems (www.jadoopower.com) for evaluation. Additional production runs were recently conducted at Millennium Cell, and additional cartridges will undergo further independent testing by the NextEnergy Center in Detroit. Process validation should be complete this spring. The cartridges will provide hydrogen for Jadoo’s 2200 Wh XRT Extended Runtime Accessories targeted for use with emergency responders and ‘off-grid’ power support applications in Columbia, South Carolina [FCB, FCB, December 2006]. FCB The team of UTC Power (www.utcpower. com) and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (www.lbl.gov) has identified cost-effective manufacturing techniques for high-cost PEM
May 2007
Nuvera H2 generation system for Pennsylvania
M
assachusetts-based Nuvera Fuel Cells, in a joint operation with East Penn Manufacturing Company, has installed its first PowerTap™ hydrogen generation system. This system is now in operation at East Penn’s Distribution Center in Topton, Pennsylvania. Hydrogen generated by the PowerTap system is powering a fleet of fuel cell-powered forklift trucks. The system has been implemented as part 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
of a field test of the new ReadyPower™ unit, which combines Nuvera’s fuel cell technology with East Penn’s advanced lead-acid battery design. PowerTap, developed as part of the Nuvera Total Power Solution (TPS), is a complete hydrogen generation system consisting of two modules: the PTG-50 hydrogen generation unit, and the PTH cascade storage system, compressor and indoor dispenser. These features of the PowerTap’s modular design allow for customized solutions while simplifying the installation process. The PTH cascade storage, compression and dispensing module can be used independently from the generation module. The compressor is a hydraulic intensifier that feeds the three-bank cascade storage/dispensing system at a peak operating pressure of 455 bar (6500 psig). The cascade storage and dispense system allows for a higher and more consistent fill pressure, up to 350 bar (5000 psi), with an average fill time for an industrial forklift of less than 5 min. Contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7571, www.nuvera.com Or contact: East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc, Lyon Station, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 610 682 6361, www.dekabatteries.com
CFCL to develop product for German residential market
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, a leading manufacturer of solid oxide fuel cells for micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) units, has signed a new product development agreement with German energy utility EWE and Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH, a specialist German boiler manufacturer. The project partners will design and develop a fully integrated m-CHP unit specifically for the German residential market. CFCL received an initial order for its field trial demonstration units from EWE in July 2005. At that time the companies also signed a letter of intent to commercialize fuel cell based m-CHP units. Last summer CFCL received a second order from EWE, for 10 NetGen™ prototype units, as part of an ongoing field trial program [FCB, FCB, August 2006]. FCB Under the terms of the new product development agreement, CFCL will collaborate with Bruns to design and construct 1 kW m-CHP units to meet EWE’s specifications for the German market. The first stage of the project is to design and operate an ‘alpha’ unit, whereby a CFCL NetGen unit, a Bruns high-efficiency condensing
boiler and a thermal store will be integrated and operated via a single control unit. Work on this stage has begun, and is expected to be completed later this year. The second stage is to create a near-commercial ‘beta’ unit, comprising a single physical unit in which a CFCL fuel cell module is fully integrated with a Bruns boiler, without the thermal store. EWE’s participation in this project ensures the development of a customeroriented and economically viable beta product. Contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Or contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Chester, UK. Tel: +44 1244 893781, Email: [email protected] Or contact: Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH, Saterland, Germany. Tel: +49 4492 92460, www.bruns-heiztechnik.de
NCMS reports progress in fuel cell manufacturing
S
everal collaborative R&D teams coordinated by the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) in Ann Arbor, Michigan have announced significant advances in the manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cells. NCMS project teams bring together member companies to collaborate on developing solutions for hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen storage manufacturing issues, and are funded through an award from the Department of Energy’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies Program. The collaborative team of Millennium Cell (www.millenniumcell.com), Dow Chemical (www.dow.com), Edison Welding Institute (www.ewi.org) and NextEnergy (www.nextenergy.org) has developed manufacturing techniques for fuel cartridge components. Initial pilot runs were successfully completed in December, and the manufactured fuel cartridges were shipped to Jadoo Power Systems (www.jadoopower.com) for evaluation. Additional production runs were recently conducted at Millennium Cell, and additional cartridges will undergo further independent testing by the NextEnergy Center in Detroit. Process validation should be complete this spring. The cartridges will provide hydrogen for Jadoo’s 2200 Wh XRT Extended Runtime Accessories targeted for use with emergency responders and ‘off-grid’ power support applications in Columbia, South Carolina [FCB, FCB, December 2006]. FCB The team of UTC Power (www.utcpower. com) and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (www.lbl.gov) has identified cost-effective manufacturing techniques for high-cost PEM
May 2007