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PNNL demos portable system using JP-8 fuel
NEWS teaming with Trident Systems in Virginia to pursue opportunities to leverage MTI Micro’s consumer market platform into low-power military markets. The teaming opportunities include demonstrations of unattended ground sensor prototypes powered by Mobion, and evaluations and potential submissions of proposals for military programs. Unattended sensors are power-hungry devices often situated in remote strategic locations where changing batteries may not be ideal. MTI Micro will work with Trident, a leader in the development of unattended ground sensors, to determine and evaluate the use and integration of Mobion technology into Trident’s sensors to create a long-lasting, unattended ground sensor product. Mobion-powered sensors could offer the military longer device use time, uninterrupted intelligence data, less dangerous missions, and lower costs as a result of less frequent battery replacements. ‘The small form-factor MTI Micro’s Mobion micro fuel cell, initially designed for handheld consumer devices, is an emerging high-density power supply that can further extend mission time for our unattended ground sensors,’ says Walter Pullar, vice president for Trident’s Networks & Sensors Division. ‘MTI Micro is committed to leveraging its consumer program to a selected number of sensor applications in the military market,’ adds Peng Lim, CEO of MTI. ‘We consider the opportunity to provide next-generation power sources for such applications to be a great fit for our Mobion technology.’ This additional agreement with an OEM for low-power products follows MTI Micro’s continuing collaboration covering cell phone and cell phone accessories with its Korean partner and an agreement with DaeHong, its Korean representative. MTI Micro expects to begin shipping products in the consumer market in 2009. Contact: MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc, Albany, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 533 2222, www.mtimicrofuelcells.com Or contact: Trident Systems Inc, Fairfax, Virginia, USA. Tel: +1 703 273 1012, www.tridsys.com
PNNL demos portable system using JP-8 fuel
F
uel desulfurization and reforming systems developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the US were instrumental in the recent demonstration of an auxiliary power unit operating on JP-8, a fuel commonly used in military operations.
February 2008
Portable fuel cell power units have several advantages over standard diesel generators, but are challenged when used with JP-8 because of its sulfur content. The desulfurization and reforming systems developed at PNNL reduce the sulfur content of JP-8 and generate a hydrogen stream compatible with an integrated fuel cell. Although currently under development for military use, the desulfurization and reforming technologies can be used with different liquid fuels to provide portable power almost anywhere that small size and high performance are important. PNNL’s researchers are also extending the desulfurization technology for use with diesel. The fuel cell-centric APU is modular, and can be reconfigured for a variety of applications. Researchers envision the technology being used to supply auxiliary power and heat for longhaul commercial trucks, which would replace the need to run internal combustion engines while the vehicle is stopped. Last fall Battelle, which operates PNNL for DOE, operated a prototype system demonstrating these technologies during the 2007 Fuel Cell Seminar, using an integrated 5 kW electric power system to power lights and a refrigerator. A unique catalytic hydrodesulfurization process developed by PNNL removes sulfur from the JP-8 fuel using syngas as the co-reactant in place of hydrogen. Gas-phase operation of the process gives a significant increase in throughput, and a reduced operating pressure, compared with conventional technology. The process does not require consumables or periodic regeneration. The system was developed with funding from the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in Michigan. Contact: Dale A. King, Process Science & Engineering Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 376 6282, Email: [email protected], Web: procscieng.pnl.gov
Trulite orders for beta KH4 portable power
T
exas-based Trulite has received multiple orders from customers to purchase beta units of the company’s new KH4 portable clean power generator, together with Trulite fuel cartridges. The orders come from companies in industries including telecoms and remote monitoring, portable power generation, emergency response, and off-grid shelters. The firm has also received beta unit orders from two government agencies. The KH4 beta units will be evaluated by customers for use both in backup power
IN BRIEF FCE’s 1.2 MW power plant attains California certifications Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy (www.fce. com) has received three certifications to confirm that its 1.2 MW-scale DFC1500MA™ power plant meets California’s emission regulations, and complies with both requirements for connecting to power grids and national product safety standards. The DFC1500MA system met stringent air quality rules set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB, www.arb.ca.gov); was certified by the Rule 21 Working Group to technical requirements for interconnecting to California’s power grid; and was approved by CSA International for its adherence to the American National Standard for Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems operating and safety standards. These certifications will simplify the approval process for installing on-site power generation such as Direct FuelCell® power plants. Their comprehensive pre-qualification tests reduce or eliminate the need to obtain certain permits, and confirms the ability to connect safely with the existing power infrastructure. Ceres, BG clean energy award for micro-CHP In the UK, Ceres Power (www.cerespower.com), which is developing intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell technology, and domestic energy supplier British Gas have jointly won the Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Award, a major new award for clean energy innovation. The firms won for their collaboration on combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems for small-scale residential microgeneration. The work, started in August 2005, recently resulted in the demonstration of a wall-mountable micro-CHP unit, integrating the fuel cell and all other components to provide heating, hot water and electricity to a home [FCB, August 2007]. The UK government’s recently published Microgeneration Strategy highlights the potential for microgeneration to provide 30–40% of the UK’s total electricity needs. Fuel cell micro-CHP could significantly reduce residential carbon emissions and energy costs through efficient generation of electricity and heat at the point-of-use in the home. Bharat Petroleum, Nippon Oil in discussions on PEM fuel cell technology India’s state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation (www.bharatpetroleum.com) is in talks with Nippon Oil Corporation in Japan (www.eneos. co.jp) about a technology-sharing agreement to develop PEM fuel cell technology, according to a report in The Business Standard in New Delhi. Three years ago Nippon Oil unveiled its PEM fuel cell in what it claims is the world’s first residential-use cogeneration system using liquefied petroleum gas [FCB, February 2005].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
PNNL demos portable system using JP-8 fuel
F
uel desulfurization and reforming systems developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the US were instrumental in the recent demonstration of an auxiliary power unit operating on JP-8, a fuel commonly used in military operations.
February 2008
Portable fuel cell power units have several advantages over standard diesel generators, but are challenged when used with JP-8 because of its sulfur content. The desulfurization and reforming systems developed at PNNL reduce the sulfur content of JP-8 and generate a hydrogen stream compatible with an integrated fuel cell. Although currently under development for military use, the desulfurization and reforming technologies can be used with different liquid fuels to provide portable power almost anywhere that small size and high performance are important. PNNL’s researchers are also extending the desulfurization technology for use with diesel. The fuel cell-centric APU is modular, and can be reconfigured for a variety of applications. Researchers envision the technology being used to supply auxiliary power and heat for longhaul commercial trucks, which would replace the need to run internal combustion engines while the vehicle is stopped. Last fall Battelle, which operates PNNL for DOE, operated a prototype system demonstrating these technologies during the 2007 Fuel Cell Seminar, using an integrated 5 kW electric power system to power lights and a refrigerator. A unique catalytic hydrodesulfurization process developed by PNNL removes sulfur from the JP-8 fuel using syngas as the co-reactant in place of hydrogen. Gas-phase operation of the process gives a significant increase in throughput, and a reduced operating pressure, compared with conventional technology. The process does not require consumables or periodic regeneration. The system was developed with funding from the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) in Michigan. Contact: Dale A. King, Process Science & Engineering Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 376 6282, Email: [email protected], Web: procscieng.pnl.gov
Trulite orders for beta KH4 portable power
T
exas-based Trulite has received multiple orders from customers to purchase beta units of the company’s new KH4 portable clean power generator, together with Trulite fuel cartridges. The orders come from companies in industries including telecoms and remote monitoring, portable power generation, emergency response, and off-grid shelters. The firm has also received beta unit orders from two government agencies. The KH4 beta units will be evaluated by customers for use both in backup power
IN BRIEF FCE’s 1.2 MW power plant attains California certifications Connecticut-based FuelCell Energy (www.fce. com) has received three certifications to confirm that its 1.2 MW-scale DFC1500MA™ power plant meets California’s emission regulations, and complies with both requirements for connecting to power grids and national product safety standards. The DFC1500MA system met stringent air quality rules set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB, www.arb.ca.gov); was certified by the Rule 21 Working Group to technical requirements for interconnecting to California’s power grid; and was approved by CSA International for its adherence to the American National Standard for Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems operating and safety standards. These certifications will simplify the approval process for installing on-site power generation such as Direct FuelCell® power plants. Their comprehensive pre-qualification tests reduce or eliminate the need to obtain certain permits, and confirms the ability to connect safely with the existing power infrastructure. Ceres, BG clean energy award for micro-CHP In the UK, Ceres Power (www.cerespower.com), which is developing intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cell technology, and domestic energy supplier British Gas have jointly won the Rushlight Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Award, a major new award for clean energy innovation. The firms won for their collaboration on combined heat and power (micro-CHP) systems for small-scale residential microgeneration. The work, started in August 2005, recently resulted in the demonstration of a wall-mountable micro-CHP unit, integrating the fuel cell and all other components to provide heating, hot water and electricity to a home [FCB, August 2007]. The UK government’s recently published Microgeneration Strategy highlights the potential for microgeneration to provide 30–40% of the UK’s total electricity needs. Fuel cell micro-CHP could significantly reduce residential carbon emissions and energy costs through efficient generation of electricity and heat at the point-of-use in the home. Bharat Petroleum, Nippon Oil in discussions on PEM fuel cell technology India’s state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation (www.bharatpetroleum.com) is in talks with Nippon Oil Corporation in Japan (www.eneos. co.jp) about a technology-sharing agreement to develop PEM fuel cell technology, according to a report in The Business Standard in New Delhi. Three years ago Nippon Oil unveiled its PEM fuel cell in what it claims is the world’s first residential-use cogeneration system using liquefied petroleum gas [FCB, February 2005].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5