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IRD battery-charger improves range of electric boats
NEWS ‘The advantage of incorporating hydrogen fuel cell technology into aviation is multi-faceted, and part of the movement towards ‘more electric’ aircraft,’ comments Henri Winand, CEO of Intelligent Energy. ‘Not only do fuel cells reduce emissions and decrease fuel consumption, but as we move to a lower-carbon economy, the airlines can diversify their fuel supply base, becoming less exposed to volatility in fuel prices.’ For some time Airbus has been investigating how hydrogen fuel cells can provide power for aircraft, and has previously tested a hydrogen and oxygen-based fuel cell system onboard its A320 test aircraft [FCB, July 2008]. The fuel cell system powers the aircraft’s backup hydraulic and electric power systems, as well as operating the ailerons. In early 2008, using a similar type of power system, Intelligent Energy first demonstrated its aviation credentials when it provided the system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft [FCB, April 2008]. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 225863, www.intelligent-energy.com Aerotec Engineering GmbH, Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 40 7421 980, www.aerotec.de Airbus, Innovation & Technology: www.airbus.com/en/ corporate/innovation
Shipboard testing now under way for FellowSHIP project
T
he European joint industry project FellowSHIP recently passed an important milestone, with the installation of a full-scale, 320 kW fuel cell on board the North Sea supply vessel Viking Lady. This is the first merchant vessel to test such a large fuel cell system as an auxiliary power source for onboard electricity production. The project was initiated by the Norwegianbased certification agency Det Norske Veritas (DNV) in 2003, with the aim of developing and demonstrating hybrid fuel cell power packs adapted for marine and offshore use. The fuel cell system has been tested onshore at Stord, Norway over the past couple of months, with all operational modes, shutdown conditions, and dynamic behavior tested and verified in accordance with the specifications. Installation onboard the Viking Lady means that fuel cell testing can now begin at sea. The 320 kW molten carbonate fuel cell system was developed by German-based MTU
November 2009
Onsite Energy GmbH. The supply vessel Viking Lady being used as a test laboratory for the fuel cell is owned by Eidesvik Offshore. Wärtsilä Ship Design has designed and adapted the vessel, while Wärtsilä Norway has developed the necessary power electronics and control systems which connect the fuel cell to the electric grid onboard the vessel. The total budget for the FellowSHIP project is NOK115 million (US$21 million) over six years, with roughly 45% funding from the Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway, and the German federal ministry of economics and technology. The remaining 55% is covered by the industry partners.
The 21 foot (6.4 m) demonstration electric chaloupe boat runs on a 1.4 kW electric motor, and carries 48 V/50 Ah batteries. The boat’s average consumption is typically 850 W. With IRD’s 500 W charger, the working time of the motor is increased from 2 h to 5 h without the need to charge using the grid. A further advantage of fitting an electric boat with a battery-charger is that the number of batteries can be reduced, while the service life of the batteries is significantly increased as a result of the charge cycle of the battery-charger. IRD Fuel Cell Technology A/S, Svendborg, Denmark. Tel: +45 6363 3000, www.ird.dk
FellowSHIP project: www.fuelcellship.com
SMALL STATIONARY
Det Norske Veritas: www.dnv.com MTU Onsite Energy GmbH: www.mtu-online.com/ mtuonsiteenergy Wärtsilä: www.wartsila.com
IRD battery-charger improves range of electric boats
D
anish-based IRD Fuel Cell Technology has developed a battery-charger based on a direct methanol fuel cell, which it says can increase the range of a single charge almost indefinitely. For demonstration purposes, the company has built a fuel cell powered battery-charger into an electric boat. Electric boats are steadily growing in popularity within the maritime sector, due to the ever-increasing focus on environmental and noise pollution. Boats with conventional petrol or diesel motors are often banned from sailing in many scenic areas, including lakes and rivers, as well as in densely populated areas. The market for electric boats specifically used for sailing in these areas is therefore a growing one. However, electric boats face the same challenge as electric cars, as the range of a single charge is limited, and it takes a relatively long time to recharge the batteries once they have been discharged. IRD Fuel Cell Technology believes that it has now found a solution to this problem. The company’s DMFC powered batterycharger system charges the boat’s batteries, which are thus discharged to a lesser degree. As long as the battery-charger charges at the same capacity as the boat’s average consumption, the range of the boat will only depend on the size of the methanol tank.
Product acceptance delay for IdaTech units in Indian contract
U
S-based IdaTech has reported a delay in the product acceptance testing of its natural gas fueled backup power system under development for the ACME Group in India. These systems – featuring PEM fuel cell stacks supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems – are intended for backup power for telecom base stations. Last fall Ballard entered into the development and supply agreement with IdaTech and ACME for hydrogen and natural gas-based backup power systems [FCB, November 2008]. Ballard’s primary role is to develop a low-cost, liquid-cooled fuel cell stack and to manufacture stacks for IdaTech to integrate into systems to be deployed by ACME. IdaTech’s primary role in the contract is the system development, including the fuel processor and balance-of-plant. Committed purchase volumes in the agreement are subject to meeting product acceptance testing (PAT) timelines. While the PAT was successfully met for the hydrogen system in July, IdaTech has now indicated that the PAT for the natural gas system, scheduled for midOctober, will likely be missed. The agreement provides for an extension of the PAT deadline for up to six months if IdaTech files an acceptable remediation plan by mid-November, with committed volumes to be reduced commensurate with the length of the delay. ‘We are certainly disappointed with this development, and the implications on our 2010 product volumes,’ says John Sheridan, Ballard’s president/CEO. ‘However, we are pleased with our progress on the development of the new FCgen™-1300 low-cost, liquid-cooled stack.’
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
Shipboard testing now under way for FellowSHIP project
T
he European joint industry project FellowSHIP recently passed an important milestone, with the installation of a full-scale, 320 kW fuel cell on board the North Sea supply vessel Viking Lady. This is the first merchant vessel to test such a large fuel cell system as an auxiliary power source for onboard electricity production. The project was initiated by the Norwegianbased certification agency Det Norske Veritas (DNV) in 2003, with the aim of developing and demonstrating hybrid fuel cell power packs adapted for marine and offshore use. The fuel cell system has been tested onshore at Stord, Norway over the past couple of months, with all operational modes, shutdown conditions, and dynamic behavior tested and verified in accordance with the specifications. Installation onboard the Viking Lady means that fuel cell testing can now begin at sea. The 320 kW molten carbonate fuel cell system was developed by German-based MTU
November 2009
Onsite Energy GmbH. The supply vessel Viking Lady being used as a test laboratory for the fuel cell is owned by Eidesvik Offshore. Wärtsilä Ship Design has designed and adapted the vessel, while Wärtsilä Norway has developed the necessary power electronics and control systems which connect the fuel cell to the electric grid onboard the vessel. The total budget for the FellowSHIP project is NOK115 million (US$21 million) over six years, with roughly 45% funding from the Research Council of Norway, Innovation Norway, and the German federal ministry of economics and technology. The remaining 55% is covered by the industry partners.
The 21 foot (6.4 m) demonstration electric chaloupe boat runs on a 1.4 kW electric motor, and carries 48 V/50 Ah batteries. The boat’s average consumption is typically 850 W. With IRD’s 500 W charger, the working time of the motor is increased from 2 h to 5 h without the need to charge using the grid. A further advantage of fitting an electric boat with a battery-charger is that the number of batteries can be reduced, while the service life of the batteries is significantly increased as a result of the charge cycle of the battery-charger. IRD Fuel Cell Technology A/S, Svendborg, Denmark. Tel: +45 6363 3000, www.ird.dk
FellowSHIP project: www.fuelcellship.com
SMALL STATIONARY
Det Norske Veritas: www.dnv.com MTU Onsite Energy GmbH: www.mtu-online.com/ mtuonsiteenergy Wärtsilä: www.wartsila.com
IRD battery-charger improves range of electric boats
D
anish-based IRD Fuel Cell Technology has developed a battery-charger based on a direct methanol fuel cell, which it says can increase the range of a single charge almost indefinitely. For demonstration purposes, the company has built a fuel cell powered battery-charger into an electric boat. Electric boats are steadily growing in popularity within the maritime sector, due to the ever-increasing focus on environmental and noise pollution. Boats with conventional petrol or diesel motors are often banned from sailing in many scenic areas, including lakes and rivers, as well as in densely populated areas. The market for electric boats specifically used for sailing in these areas is therefore a growing one. However, electric boats face the same challenge as electric cars, as the range of a single charge is limited, and it takes a relatively long time to recharge the batteries once they have been discharged. IRD Fuel Cell Technology believes that it has now found a solution to this problem. The company’s DMFC powered batterycharger system charges the boat’s batteries, which are thus discharged to a lesser degree. As long as the battery-charger charges at the same capacity as the boat’s average consumption, the range of the boat will only depend on the size of the methanol tank.
Product acceptance delay for IdaTech units in Indian contract
U
S-based IdaTech has reported a delay in the product acceptance testing of its natural gas fueled backup power system under development for the ACME Group in India. These systems – featuring PEM fuel cell stacks supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems – are intended for backup power for telecom base stations. Last fall Ballard entered into the development and supply agreement with IdaTech and ACME for hydrogen and natural gas-based backup power systems [FCB, November 2008]. Ballard’s primary role is to develop a low-cost, liquid-cooled fuel cell stack and to manufacture stacks for IdaTech to integrate into systems to be deployed by ACME. IdaTech’s primary role in the contract is the system development, including the fuel processor and balance-of-plant. Committed purchase volumes in the agreement are subject to meeting product acceptance testing (PAT) timelines. While the PAT was successfully met for the hydrogen system in July, IdaTech has now indicated that the PAT for the natural gas system, scheduled for midOctober, will likely be missed. The agreement provides for an extension of the PAT deadline for up to six months if IdaTech files an acceptable remediation plan by mid-November, with committed volumes to be reduced commensurate with the length of the delay. ‘We are certainly disappointed with this development, and the implications on our 2010 product volumes,’ says John Sheridan, Ballard’s president/CEO. ‘However, we are pleased with our progress on the development of the new FCgen™-1300 low-cost, liquid-cooled stack.’
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5