- Email: [email protected]
Mitsubishi Hitachi, NGK partner on SOFC stack mass production
NEWS Corporation for easy integration into two- and four-wheel FCEVs [FCB, June 2014, p4]. The company also sees Gen4 applications beyond the automotive industry, for example as an auxiliary power unit or for aerospace applications [see the Intelligent Energy feature in FCB, August 2009]. Intelligent Energy is also busy in other applications: it is collaborating on the commercialisation of Hydro Industries’ water purification technology across India, powered by IE fuel cells [FCB, March 2014, p1]. And last autumn it launched its Upp™ device to charge and power portable electronic devices [FCB, December 2013, p7]. Indeed, according to a DailyMail.co.uk report, Intelligent Energy is secretly working with Apple to embed fuel cells in electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones within a few years, allowing them to run for several days or even weeks without being recharged. Intelligent Energy revealed on its recent flotation [FCB, July 2014, p11] that it has acquired patents in tandem with a major ‘international electronics company’, although its partner’s identity is still secret. However, IE already has strong links with Apple, having recruited former Apple Computer product specialist Joe O’Sullivan as its chief operating officer [FCB, January 2012, p5]. It also recently opened an office in San Jose, California – just a few miles from Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino [FCB, May 2014, p9]. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com
ElringKlinger acquires majority stake in New Enerday for SOFCs
I
n Germany, ElringKlinger AG has acquired from the consortium of existing owners a 75% interest in New Enerday GmbH. The acquisition of a controlling interest will help ElringKlinger to strengthen its business activities relating to solid oxide fuel cells, and extend its own expertise in associated electronics, reformer technology, and system integration. ElringKlinger makes various automotive engine and exhaust components. Its fuel cell technology division develops and manufactures SOFC stacks, together with housings for thermal insulation of the high-temperature core of the system, as well as components for PEM fuel cell stacks such as metal bipolar plates and casings. The transaction will also give
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
ElringKlinger access to important industrial property rights, and means it now has control of all processes within the value chain and system-level integration. ElringKlinger is collaborating with partners to develop an SOFC unit for the lowemissions, high-efficiency onboard supply of power in trucks and other commercial vehicles, running on diesel, with an output power up to 3.5 kW [FCB, November 2013, p10]. New Enerday is developing SOFC generators that run on fuels such as natural gas, LPG or diesel, as well as renewables such as bioethanol or biogas. The company already has marketable LPG-based products in an output range from 350 to 750 W, which can be interconnected on a modular basis to provide a higher system output. Last year the company announced a deal with Sirius Integrator in the US to resell and integrate its propane-fueled 500 W SOFC battery recharger, for providing off-grid and grid-backup power for both leisure and industrial applications [FCB, June 2013, p7]. Promising markets include onboard power supplies for boats and yachts, as well as recreational vehicles. The focus is also on the development and small-batch series production of systems used as emergency standby power units to protect sensitive installations against power failures. In addition, LPG-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) generation systems for domestic use in single-family houses and holiday homes are in the development phase. New Enerday has a workforce of 12 employees at its Neubrandenburg site, mainly focused on product development and pilot production. The other 25% interest in New Enerday will remain with the company founder, Dr Matthias Boltze. ElringKlinger AG, Dettingen/Erms, Germany. Tel: +49 7123 7240, www.elringklinger.de/en/home ElringKlinger, Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/elringklinger-fuelcells New Enerday GmbH, Neubrandenburg, Germany. Tel: +49 395 3799 9202, www.new-enerday.com/index.php?np=1&sp=en
Mitsubishi Hitachi, NGK partner on SOFC stack mass production
J
apanese companies Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) and NGK Spark Plug (NTK) have signed a basic agreement to collaborate on targeting mass production of cylindrical solid oxide fuel cell stacks. The integration of their respective technological strengths,
expertise, and management resources is intended to establish a mass production structure for cost-competitive cylindrical SOFC stacks. MHPS and NTK initially aim to complete a small-batch production system for cylindrical stacks by combining their technologies and expertise. Then, based on that system, the partners will jointly establish the technology to enable full-scale mass production. The companies are targeting the completion of a mass production line capable of manufacturing upwards of several hundred thousand units per annum by April 2018. The realisation of this plan will be achieved through the merger of MHPS’s long-established development, engineering and manufacturing technologies for cylindrical SOFC stacks, with NTK’s technologies in mass production of ceramics. MHPS has taken over the comprehensive capabilities and product ranges formerly held by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hitachi Ltd. The MHPS cylindrical stacks are horizontalstripe cell stacks structured in such a way that multiple active elements (anode, electrolyte, cathode) are formed on the outer surface of the ceramic-based substrate tube, and the elements are linearly connected by interconnects. Achieving mass production combined with low cost is a major issue currently being addressed to promote expanded adoption of fuel cells. The companies anticipate that the stacks will be utilised in hybrid power systems, with the unreacted gas and hot air discharged from the ceramic SOFC module used to drive a micro gas turbine, for significantly higher power generation efficiency. In addition, as the hightemperature exhaust gas from the turbine can be used to generate hot water and steam, the hybrid system is capable of combined heat and power (CHP) operation. NTK is also active in R&D into planar SOFCs, hydrogen sensors and other components for cogeneration systems, which are expected to play a major role in future home power generation applications. Planar SOFCs are not included within the new tie-up with MHPS. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems: www.mhps.com/en NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd: www.ngkntk.co.jp/english
RESEARCH
European FCH 2 JU launched, first call under Horizon 2020
T
he second generation of the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
August 2014
ElringKlinger acquires majority stake in New Enerday for SOFCs
I
n Germany, ElringKlinger AG has acquired from the consortium of existing owners a 75% interest in New Enerday GmbH. The acquisition of a controlling interest will help ElringKlinger to strengthen its business activities relating to solid oxide fuel cells, and extend its own expertise in associated electronics, reformer technology, and system integration. ElringKlinger makes various automotive engine and exhaust components. Its fuel cell technology division develops and manufactures SOFC stacks, together with housings for thermal insulation of the high-temperature core of the system, as well as components for PEM fuel cell stacks such as metal bipolar plates and casings. The transaction will also give
10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
ElringKlinger access to important industrial property rights, and means it now has control of all processes within the value chain and system-level integration. ElringKlinger is collaborating with partners to develop an SOFC unit for the lowemissions, high-efficiency onboard supply of power in trucks and other commercial vehicles, running on diesel, with an output power up to 3.5 kW [FCB, November 2013, p10]. New Enerday is developing SOFC generators that run on fuels such as natural gas, LPG or diesel, as well as renewables such as bioethanol or biogas. The company already has marketable LPG-based products in an output range from 350 to 750 W, which can be interconnected on a modular basis to provide a higher system output. Last year the company announced a deal with Sirius Integrator in the US to resell and integrate its propane-fueled 500 W SOFC battery recharger, for providing off-grid and grid-backup power for both leisure and industrial applications [FCB, June 2013, p7]. Promising markets include onboard power supplies for boats and yachts, as well as recreational vehicles. The focus is also on the development and small-batch series production of systems used as emergency standby power units to protect sensitive installations against power failures. In addition, LPG-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) generation systems for domestic use in single-family houses and holiday homes are in the development phase. New Enerday has a workforce of 12 employees at its Neubrandenburg site, mainly focused on product development and pilot production. The other 25% interest in New Enerday will remain with the company founder, Dr Matthias Boltze. ElringKlinger AG, Dettingen/Erms, Germany. Tel: +49 7123 7240, www.elringklinger.de/en/home ElringKlinger, Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/elringklinger-fuelcells New Enerday GmbH, Neubrandenburg, Germany. Tel: +49 395 3799 9202, www.new-enerday.com/index.php?np=1&sp=en
Mitsubishi Hitachi, NGK partner on SOFC stack mass production
J
apanese companies Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) and NGK Spark Plug (NTK) have signed a basic agreement to collaborate on targeting mass production of cylindrical solid oxide fuel cell stacks. The integration of their respective technological strengths,
expertise, and management resources is intended to establish a mass production structure for cost-competitive cylindrical SOFC stacks. MHPS and NTK initially aim to complete a small-batch production system for cylindrical stacks by combining their technologies and expertise. Then, based on that system, the partners will jointly establish the technology to enable full-scale mass production. The companies are targeting the completion of a mass production line capable of manufacturing upwards of several hundred thousand units per annum by April 2018. The realisation of this plan will be achieved through the merger of MHPS’s long-established development, engineering and manufacturing technologies for cylindrical SOFC stacks, with NTK’s technologies in mass production of ceramics. MHPS has taken over the comprehensive capabilities and product ranges formerly held by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hitachi Ltd. The MHPS cylindrical stacks are horizontalstripe cell stacks structured in such a way that multiple active elements (anode, electrolyte, cathode) are formed on the outer surface of the ceramic-based substrate tube, and the elements are linearly connected by interconnects. Achieving mass production combined with low cost is a major issue currently being addressed to promote expanded adoption of fuel cells. The companies anticipate that the stacks will be utilised in hybrid power systems, with the unreacted gas and hot air discharged from the ceramic SOFC module used to drive a micro gas turbine, for significantly higher power generation efficiency. In addition, as the hightemperature exhaust gas from the turbine can be used to generate hot water and steam, the hybrid system is capable of combined heat and power (CHP) operation. NTK is also active in R&D into planar SOFCs, hydrogen sensors and other components for cogeneration systems, which are expected to play a major role in future home power generation applications. Planar SOFCs are not included within the new tie-up with MHPS. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems: www.mhps.com/en NGK Spark Plug Co Ltd: www.ngkntk.co.jp/english
RESEARCH
European FCH 2 JU launched, first call under Horizon 2020
T
he second generation of the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
August 2014