- Email: [email protected]
NZ project for fuel cell hydrogen from coal
FCBSeptember
8/28/02
9:34 AM
Page 6
NEWS The system is the first high-pressure hydrogen storage tank of 700 bar technology capacity to be certified by the TÜV, which approves new technology in vehicles. For certification, TÜV validates high-pressure tanks in accordance with common industry standards in Europe and North America. Until now, the maximum capacity of TÜVcertified hydrogen storage tanks was 350 bar (5000 psi). At 700 bar, significantly more hydrogen can be stored in the same space occupied previously by a 350 bar tank, extending the range of FCVs between refills. Scientists at the GM Fuel Cell Activities center in Mainz-Kastel, Germany are working to complete tests with the new storage system, for use in GM’s Hydrogen3 fuel cell car. The system has also been validated according to the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP), which is leading the development of global regulatory standards for hydrogen storage testing and certification. The TriShield™ hydrogen storage tank was developed in GM’s partnership with Quantum, launched a year ago to collaborate on improving the range of GM’s FCVs. GM has a 20% equity stake in Quantum, which was recently spun off from Impco Technologies [see News, page 2]. Contact: Quantum Technologies Inc, 17872 Cartwright Road, Irvine, CA 92614, USA. Tel: +1 949 399 4500, Fax: +1 949 399 4600, www.qtww.com
NZ project for fuel cell hydrogen from coal The New Zealand government is investing up to NZ$6m (US$2.8m) in the development of the nation’s own hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, with hydrogen extracted from coal. According to the NZ Herald, researchers expect to have the technology running in a laboratory within three years, and a prototype in the field by 2008. CRL Energy Ltd, the former research arm of the state coal company Solid Energy, is being funded to find ways to produce hydrogen from coal. At the same time, the government’s science funding agency, the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology, is investing in a project by crown science company Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) to use the hydrogen in fuel cells. This could range from small units to power city vehicles, to larger units which could produce the electricity for a high-rise building or factory. The IRL project began two years ago, with research funding now secured for a further six years. It has already demonstrated a 5 kWe fuel cell. The company is investigating the best way
6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
to obtain hydrogen of sufficient purity for electricity generation in small fuel cells at sites close to where the electricity would be used. Recent CRL Energy work on newly developed and experimental advanced coal-conversion technologies has shown that many New Zealand coals are particularly suitable for hydrogen-rich gas production. Contact: Alister Gardiner, Industrial Research Ltd, PO Box 20-028, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel: +64 3 358 9189, Fax: +64 3 358 9506, Email: [email protected], www.irl.cri.nz
Commercial hydrogen products, sales deal for H Power H Power is now taking orders for two commercial, direct hydrogen fueled product lines based on its E(PAC)-500™ system, with first shipments expected this month. The company has also signed a representation agreement with Direct Global Power of Schenectady, NY which will be responsible for developing sales opportunities for the new products. The direct hydrogen products are designed for industrial users with premium power requirements, for backup or primary power indoors or outdoors. The E(PAC)-500 is a self-contained, rack-mountable 500 We PEM fuel cell power source, with an output of 120 Vac at 60 Hz. International versions will be available shortly. The system is the first product in the company’s Self-Contained Power Solutions Line, which combines an all-inclusive fuel cell power source with grid-sensing capability that allows the system to act as a stand-alone power source, or self-start on grid failure. H Power has worked to refine the product offering with several partners in the US, Japan and Europe in trial applications since it introduced the precommercial version in February. As a result of the feedback received, H Power has decided to offer two products: the existing E(PAC)-500, and the new Modular Power Solution line. The Modular Power Solutions product line is based on the H(Core)-500™, a hydrogen-fueled 500 We 48 Vdc power source configurable for indoor or outdoor use. Both lines will be produced at the company’s manufacturing facility in Monroe, NC and will be offered with a one-year or 3000 h warranty. The new agreement means Direct Global Power will be responsible for developing sales opportunities for both of these new product lines. DGP’s primary focus has been in
photovoltaic markets, but the company is expanding into other distributed generation technologies that will allow it to offer a wider range of clean-energy technologies. Contact: H Power Corporation, 60 Montgomery Street, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA. Tel: +1 973 450 4400, Fax: +1 973 450 9850, www.hpower.com Or contact: Direct Global Power Inc, 1462 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady, NY 12305, USA. Tel: +1 518 346 2478, Fax: +1 518 346 1648, www.directglobalpower.com
Nuvera launches fuel cell unit, quits Axane JV US/Italian Nuvera Fuel Cells has set up a hydrogen fuel cell business based on its Avanti™ 5 kWe distributed generation product line. The new initiative provides OEMs with ruggedized hydrogen power modules from 1 to 6 kWe in size that can operate under harsh conditions, such as are typically encountered in industrial, commercial and automotive environments. Nuvera has also left its Axane joint venture with French-based Air Liquide, which will take over the unit; the companies are pursuing different paths to developing hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Establishment of the new Nuvera business unit follows the successful, ongoing field test of two Nuvera hydrogen power modules at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Bedford, Massachusetts. The 1 kWe systems, which utilize excess hydrogen from an on-site liquid hydrogen installation, produce electricity for an essential lab process. The modules will continue to operate for the near term for further evaluation. ‘The addition of hydrogen power modules to our product platform is a natural extension of our distributed generation fuel cell technology,’ commented Roberto Cordaro, Nuvera’s president/CEO. ‘The new product line is the direct result of a rapidly growing demand for rugged hydrogen-powered applications for industrial and commercial OEM applications.’ Nuvera’s strategy now includes both reformerbased fuel cell systems and direct hydrogen power modules. It will continue to develop fuel cell power systems (including fuel processors, stacks and power electronics) for the distributed generation and automotive industries, while leveraging its stack technology for hydrogen power module applications such as industrial vehicles, range extenders for cars and city electric vehicles, and uninterruptible power systems. Nuvera and Air Liquide set up their Axane joint venture in February 2001, to develop and
September 2002
8/28/02
9:34 AM
Page 6
NEWS The system is the first high-pressure hydrogen storage tank of 700 bar technology capacity to be certified by the TÜV, which approves new technology in vehicles. For certification, TÜV validates high-pressure tanks in accordance with common industry standards in Europe and North America. Until now, the maximum capacity of TÜVcertified hydrogen storage tanks was 350 bar (5000 psi). At 700 bar, significantly more hydrogen can be stored in the same space occupied previously by a 350 bar tank, extending the range of FCVs between refills. Scientists at the GM Fuel Cell Activities center in Mainz-Kastel, Germany are working to complete tests with the new storage system, for use in GM’s Hydrogen3 fuel cell car. The system has also been validated according to the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP), which is leading the development of global regulatory standards for hydrogen storage testing and certification. The TriShield™ hydrogen storage tank was developed in GM’s partnership with Quantum, launched a year ago to collaborate on improving the range of GM’s FCVs. GM has a 20% equity stake in Quantum, which was recently spun off from Impco Technologies [see News, page 2]. Contact: Quantum Technologies Inc, 17872 Cartwright Road, Irvine, CA 92614, USA. Tel: +1 949 399 4500, Fax: +1 949 399 4600, www.qtww.com
NZ project for fuel cell hydrogen from coal The New Zealand government is investing up to NZ$6m (US$2.8m) in the development of the nation’s own hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology, with hydrogen extracted from coal. According to the NZ Herald, researchers expect to have the technology running in a laboratory within three years, and a prototype in the field by 2008. CRL Energy Ltd, the former research arm of the state coal company Solid Energy, is being funded to find ways to produce hydrogen from coal. At the same time, the government’s science funding agency, the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology, is investing in a project by crown science company Industrial Research Ltd (IRL) to use the hydrogen in fuel cells. This could range from small units to power city vehicles, to larger units which could produce the electricity for a high-rise building or factory. The IRL project began two years ago, with research funding now secured for a further six years. It has already demonstrated a 5 kWe fuel cell. The company is investigating the best way
6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
to obtain hydrogen of sufficient purity for electricity generation in small fuel cells at sites close to where the electricity would be used. Recent CRL Energy work on newly developed and experimental advanced coal-conversion technologies has shown that many New Zealand coals are particularly suitable for hydrogen-rich gas production. Contact: Alister Gardiner, Industrial Research Ltd, PO Box 20-028, Christchurch, New Zealand. Tel: +64 3 358 9189, Fax: +64 3 358 9506, Email: [email protected], www.irl.cri.nz
Commercial hydrogen products, sales deal for H Power H Power is now taking orders for two commercial, direct hydrogen fueled product lines based on its E(PAC)-500™ system, with first shipments expected this month. The company has also signed a representation agreement with Direct Global Power of Schenectady, NY which will be responsible for developing sales opportunities for the new products. The direct hydrogen products are designed for industrial users with premium power requirements, for backup or primary power indoors or outdoors. The E(PAC)-500 is a self-contained, rack-mountable 500 We PEM fuel cell power source, with an output of 120 Vac at 60 Hz. International versions will be available shortly. The system is the first product in the company’s Self-Contained Power Solutions Line, which combines an all-inclusive fuel cell power source with grid-sensing capability that allows the system to act as a stand-alone power source, or self-start on grid failure. H Power has worked to refine the product offering with several partners in the US, Japan and Europe in trial applications since it introduced the precommercial version in February. As a result of the feedback received, H Power has decided to offer two products: the existing E(PAC)-500, and the new Modular Power Solution line. The Modular Power Solutions product line is based on the H(Core)-500™, a hydrogen-fueled 500 We 48 Vdc power source configurable for indoor or outdoor use. Both lines will be produced at the company’s manufacturing facility in Monroe, NC and will be offered with a one-year or 3000 h warranty. The new agreement means Direct Global Power will be responsible for developing sales opportunities for both of these new product lines. DGP’s primary focus has been in
photovoltaic markets, but the company is expanding into other distributed generation technologies that will allow it to offer a wider range of clean-energy technologies. Contact: H Power Corporation, 60 Montgomery Street, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA. Tel: +1 973 450 4400, Fax: +1 973 450 9850, www.hpower.com Or contact: Direct Global Power Inc, 1462 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady, NY 12305, USA. Tel: +1 518 346 2478, Fax: +1 518 346 1648, www.directglobalpower.com
Nuvera launches fuel cell unit, quits Axane JV US/Italian Nuvera Fuel Cells has set up a hydrogen fuel cell business based on its Avanti™ 5 kWe distributed generation product line. The new initiative provides OEMs with ruggedized hydrogen power modules from 1 to 6 kWe in size that can operate under harsh conditions, such as are typically encountered in industrial, commercial and automotive environments. Nuvera has also left its Axane joint venture with French-based Air Liquide, which will take over the unit; the companies are pursuing different paths to developing hydrogen fuel cell technologies. Establishment of the new Nuvera business unit follows the successful, ongoing field test of two Nuvera hydrogen power modules at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory in Bedford, Massachusetts. The 1 kWe systems, which utilize excess hydrogen from an on-site liquid hydrogen installation, produce electricity for an essential lab process. The modules will continue to operate for the near term for further evaluation. ‘The addition of hydrogen power modules to our product platform is a natural extension of our distributed generation fuel cell technology,’ commented Roberto Cordaro, Nuvera’s president/CEO. ‘The new product line is the direct result of a rapidly growing demand for rugged hydrogen-powered applications for industrial and commercial OEM applications.’ Nuvera’s strategy now includes both reformerbased fuel cell systems and direct hydrogen power modules. It will continue to develop fuel cell power systems (including fuel processors, stacks and power electronics) for the distributed generation and automotive industries, while leveraging its stack technology for hydrogen power module applications such as industrial vehicles, range extenders for cars and city electric vehicles, and uninterruptible power systems. Nuvera and Air Liquide set up their Axane joint venture in February 2001, to develop and
September 2002