- Email: [email protected]
ReliOn launches units for high duty cycle, grid-support usage
NEWS ‘This delivery continues to move AMI beyond engineering development and into procurement, supporting the longterm strategic plans that we have with our collaborators and partners to integrate fuel cells with battlefield units,’ says Crumm. Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials Inc, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Tel: +1 734 302 7632, www.ultra-ami.com
FuelCell Energy wins US Navy contract to develop UUV power
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has been awarded a $3.8 million contract from the US Navy to develop and test a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Battery power system for largedisplacement undersea vehicle propulsion. The objective of the project is to develop a refuelable power system, with high energy density, that is suitable for undertaking longduration underwater missions of unmanned submersibles. The Hybrid SOFC-Battery system will be capable of generating 1800 kWh of electricity during a 70-day mission, with no exhaust discharged outside of the vehicle at any time. It will use liquid fuel and be selfcontained with no reliance on external air. ‘This is a challenging and exciting project due to the unique installation, and we expect to apply knowledge gained from this project into a range of other applications, including maritime applications of fuel cells and auxiliary power units,’ says Tony Leo, the company’s VP of application engineering & advanced technology development. ‘Developing a compact solid oxide fuel cell balance-of-plant with a liquid fuel, will not only have potential for deployment in defence-related applications, but has viability as power systems for use in commercial underwater vehicles, marine vessels, and remote sites.’ The FuelCell Energy Hybrid SOFC-Battery power system is attractive for underwater vehicle applications, as its high efficiency minimises usage of both stored fuel and oxygen in the confined spaces available onboard the vehicle. The system achieves air independence by utilising a unique oxygen storage technology, maintains neutral buoyancy with no discharge of system products, and is capable of responding to the peak power demands for a typical Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) as defined by the US Navy.
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
A consortium will work with the FuelCell Energy team to fulfill the programme requirements. The SOFC stack is based on technology developed by Colorado-based Versa Power Systems, an SOFC developer part-owned by FuelCell Energy. Other team partners include the Energy Systems Division of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Yardney Technical Products Inc, the Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This diverse team has the expertise required to meet the state-of-the-art system design, safety, and reliability of US Navy specifications. NASA will develop the oxygen storage required by the power system, Yardney will supply the battery technology, and PNNL will provide compact fuel processing design knowledge. NUWC will complement the team on a range of topics including the logistics of systemisation, integration, and tie-ins with the balance of LDUUV systems. This 18-month Phase I award will fund development and laboratory testing of the SOFC propulsion system. Successful performance results may lead to a Phase II award that would involve the delivery of a full-scale system for testing in an unmanned undersea vehicle. FuelCell Energy Inc, Danbury, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com Versa Power Systems: www.versa-power.com NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center: www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home Yardney Technical Products: www.yardney.com Naval Underwater Warfare Center: www.navsea.navy.mil/nuwc Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: www.pnl.gov
Fuel cell will power record rowing attempt around GB coast
I
n the UK, technology integrator Fuel Cell Systems (FCS) has delivered an EFOY Comfort 140 fuel cell to Team Hallin, who next year will attempt to break the record for rowing around Great Britain in an ocean rowing boat (ORB). Team Hallin’s nonstop, unsupported rowing challenge will rely heavily on essential electrical equipment such as a tiller pilot, satnav, radio, rechargeable satellite phone, and fresh water maker. The lightweight, space-saving design of the EFOY direct methanol fuel cell – manufactured by German-based SFC Energy
– will provide a reliable power supply for the electrical equipment and keep the two onboard batteries fully charged. ‘It’s absolutely crucial that we carry a reliable source of power and, as we found out last year in our world record row across the Atlantic, fuel cell technology is much more dependable than solar or wind,’ says David Hosking, skipper of Team Hallin and a retired commander in the Royal Navy. Hosking and his team have already tested the reliability of marine fuel cells. Team Hallin was first introduced to fuel cells in 2009, when they used a new EFOY 160, mounted in a watertight compartment under the rowing deck of their first ORB, a 40 ft (12 m) trimaran called Hallin Marine. ‘We would not have broken the world record for the fastest ever crossing of the Atlantic under oars without the fuel cell,’ says Hosking. ‘It worked excellently and never required any servicing. The fuel cell provided us with guaranteed power for all the key electrical systems onboard, something the solar panels were unable to do.’ The team’s new boat Hallin Marine 2 is currently undergoing a significant fit-out, with extensive sea trials scheduled throughout the autumn and winter. The ‘Round UK Row’ challenge is scheduled for early June 2013, and will depart from Tower Bridge in London. With a crew of four, minimising the amount of weight carried on board the 24 foot (7.3 m) glass fibre reinforced epoxy monohull will be crucial if Team Hallin are to succeed. ‘We’re seeing an increasing demand for fuel cell technology in the leisure sector, particularly from the marine industry,’ says Tom Sperrey, managing director of FCS and its parent company, UPS Systems Plc. ‘From ocean rowing boats to offshore racing yachts, fuel cells are becoming the preferred choice of power supply. Boat owners are attracted by the lightweight, compact design that offers silent running and zero harmful emissions.’ Fuel Cell Systems, Hungerford, Berkshire, UK. Tel: +44 1488 680580, www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk EFOY Comfort fuel cells: www.efoy-comfort.com
SMALL STATIONARY
ReliOn launches units for high duty cycle, grid-support usage
U
S-based ReliOn, which provides high-reliability fuel cell solutions for backup power and grid-support applications, has announced its new
August 2012
NEWS E-1000x and E-2200x products. The new units are part of the company’s plan to address the need for high duty cycle grid-support in a number of situations where alternative power products are used to support a less reliable electrical grid, or no grid at all. The E-1000x and E-2200x – rated at 1 kW and 2.2 kW per chassis, respectively – feature PEM technology that has been optimised around these applications, and the products carry an industry-leading warranty. The E-1000x and E-2200x fuel cell systems are exempt from the most stringent air quality standards, such as those set by the California Air Resources Board, because they produce no harmful emissions. ReliOn has begun shipping pre-commercial products to customers in areas of the world where the grid routinely drops coverage for several hours a day. Commercial product shipments will begin in September, with orders now being accepted. ‘The E-1000x and E-2200x fuel cell systems have been optimised to meet a need from our customers for grid-support power in a variety of locations around the world,’ explains Mark Cohen, ReliOn’s VP of product line management. ‘The E-1000x and E-2200x chassis can be deployed as single or multiple systems. The E-1000x platform is targeted for power requirements from 500 W to 4 kW, while the E-2200x platform targets higher power requirements up to 8.8 kW.’ The new systems join ReliOn’s E-series product line, which provides backup power solutions between 50 W and 20 kW [FCB, March 2012, p4]. ReliOn customers include global leaders in wireless, wired and public safety network communications, railway services and utilities, as well as branches and agencies of US federal and state governments. ReliOn Inc, Spokane, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 228 6500, www.relion-inc.com
VN Tech completes initial trials of Chinese telecom backup power
C
alifornia-based VelaTel Global Communications, a global leader in deploying and operating wireless broadband and telecom networks, reports that its subsidiary VN Technologies has completed its initial round of test trials commissioned by China Mobile Ltd. VN Tech has been
August 2012
operating fuel cells to power base transceiver stations (BTS) at several sites in China [FCB, May 2012, p8]. China Mobile has now submitted a comprehensive report of the test trial results to key ministries of China’s central government. Meanwhile, China Telecom Corporation has also commissioned VN Tech to construct trial test sites in Beijing on its behalf. China Mobile is the largest mobile telephone operator worldwide, with 650 million subscribers. The company is also China’s largest fixed line telephone company, and provides data, multimedia, and other telecoms and information services to more than 200 million subscribers. Between them China Mobile and China Telecom deploy thousands of telecom base transceivers and other infrastructure that require backup power. ‘These test trials with China’s two top telecommunications operators build confidence for the operators, and for the Chinese central government to develop a standard to replace out-of-date backup batteries with hydrogen fuel cell power,’ says Mr Hongye Luo, president of VN Tech. ‘I strongly believe the entire industry will shift towards green energy in the near future.’ VelaTel has also announced that the China Communications Standards Association has appointed Luo to head the technical committee that will develop national standards and specifications for the use of hydrogen fuel cells in the telecom industry. After adoption, these standards will also be submitted to the Telecommunications Standards Sector of the International Telecommunication Union. The strong support from China Mobile and China Telecom positions VN Tech’s product to become the ‘industry standard’ for fuel cell systems in China. Luo’s leadership role in developing standards and specifications also creates the prospect for VN Tech’s fuel cell specifications to be adopted as the ‘government standard’ in China. Other companies are targetting the Chinese telecoms market, including Ballard Power Systems in partnership with Azure Hydrogen Energy Science & Technology Corporation [FCB, July 2012, p4], and German-based FutureE Fuel Cell Solutions, which recently delivered its first Jupiter outdoor fuel cell systems to the State Grid Corporation of China [FCB, June 2012, p6]. VelaTel Global Communications: www.velatel.com VN Technologies: www.velatel.com/projects-brands/vn-tech-china China Communications Standards Association: www.ccsa.org.cn/english
IN BRIEF French Post to run FCEVs in MobyPost A European consortium of companies and research institutes has begun development of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle for the French postal service, La Poste. The ‘solar-to-wheel concept’ is part of the MobyPost initiative (www. mobypost-project.eu), under which 10 fuel cell powered vehicles will be developed and tested at two locations in the Franche-Comté region. A hydrogen production facility using a photovoltaic system has been designed to produce the 1.5 kg/day of hydrogen needed to run the vehicles. The first of two autonomous hydrogen stations will be ready before the end of the year, along with a prototype postal delivery vehicle. The project is being coordinated by the Institut Pierre Vernier (IPV) in France. The other academic participants are the Université de Technologie Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM) in France, and the European Institute for Energy Research (EIFER) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The industrial partners are power electronics and systems producer Ducati Energia in Italy, which is also building the vehicles; Swiss-based MES SA, which is developing an innovative hybrid PEM fuel cell/battery power system; metal hydride tank developer Mahytec in France; and Italian electrolyser manufacturer H2Nitidor. Technology transfer will be handled by IPV and the Steinbeis-EuropaZentrum in Stuttgart, Germany. Fuel cell scooter production in Taiwan The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in Taiwan has announced its safety and reliability standard for hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles, according to the China Post in Taiwan. The MOEA says that scooters produced by some manufacturers, using low-pressure hydrogen storage canisters, have passed the standard and are ready for mass production. MOEA deputy minister Tu Tzu-chun says that the standard for hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles is included in the ongoing regional integration of standards. The ministry is also working on a global standard for such vehicles, paving the way for future exports of hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles. Some 30 hydrogen fuel cell scooters have completed a total of 120 000 km (75 000 miles) in on-road test drives in cities, mountains, and seaside areas. Late last year Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies (www.apfct.com) reported that two of the ten scooters in its fleet field trial in Taiwan had reached 15 000 km (9400 miles) of on-road driving [FCB, January 2012, p11]. The on-road test drive is part of the Demonstration and Verification Program of Hydrogen Energy Industry, sponsored by the Taiwanese Bureau of Energy, with support from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
FuelCell Energy wins US Navy contract to develop UUV power
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has been awarded a $3.8 million contract from the US Navy to develop and test a Hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell-Battery power system for largedisplacement undersea vehicle propulsion. The objective of the project is to develop a refuelable power system, with high energy density, that is suitable for undertaking longduration underwater missions of unmanned submersibles. The Hybrid SOFC-Battery system will be capable of generating 1800 kWh of electricity during a 70-day mission, with no exhaust discharged outside of the vehicle at any time. It will use liquid fuel and be selfcontained with no reliance on external air. ‘This is a challenging and exciting project due to the unique installation, and we expect to apply knowledge gained from this project into a range of other applications, including maritime applications of fuel cells and auxiliary power units,’ says Tony Leo, the company’s VP of application engineering & advanced technology development. ‘Developing a compact solid oxide fuel cell balance-of-plant with a liquid fuel, will not only have potential for deployment in defence-related applications, but has viability as power systems for use in commercial underwater vehicles, marine vessels, and remote sites.’ The FuelCell Energy Hybrid SOFC-Battery power system is attractive for underwater vehicle applications, as its high efficiency minimises usage of both stored fuel and oxygen in the confined spaces available onboard the vehicle. The system achieves air independence by utilising a unique oxygen storage technology, maintains neutral buoyancy with no discharge of system products, and is capable of responding to the peak power demands for a typical Large Displacement Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (LDUUV) as defined by the US Navy.
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
A consortium will work with the FuelCell Energy team to fulfill the programme requirements. The SOFC stack is based on technology developed by Colorado-based Versa Power Systems, an SOFC developer part-owned by FuelCell Energy. Other team partners include the Energy Systems Division of NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Yardney Technical Products Inc, the Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This diverse team has the expertise required to meet the state-of-the-art system design, safety, and reliability of US Navy specifications. NASA will develop the oxygen storage required by the power system, Yardney will supply the battery technology, and PNNL will provide compact fuel processing design knowledge. NUWC will complement the team on a range of topics including the logistics of systemisation, integration, and tie-ins with the balance of LDUUV systems. This 18-month Phase I award will fund development and laboratory testing of the SOFC propulsion system. Successful performance results may lead to a Phase II award that would involve the delivery of a full-scale system for testing in an unmanned undersea vehicle. FuelCell Energy Inc, Danbury, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com Versa Power Systems: www.versa-power.com NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center: www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/home Yardney Technical Products: www.yardney.com Naval Underwater Warfare Center: www.navsea.navy.mil/nuwc Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: www.pnl.gov
Fuel cell will power record rowing attempt around GB coast
I
n the UK, technology integrator Fuel Cell Systems (FCS) has delivered an EFOY Comfort 140 fuel cell to Team Hallin, who next year will attempt to break the record for rowing around Great Britain in an ocean rowing boat (ORB). Team Hallin’s nonstop, unsupported rowing challenge will rely heavily on essential electrical equipment such as a tiller pilot, satnav, radio, rechargeable satellite phone, and fresh water maker. The lightweight, space-saving design of the EFOY direct methanol fuel cell – manufactured by German-based SFC Energy
– will provide a reliable power supply for the electrical equipment and keep the two onboard batteries fully charged. ‘It’s absolutely crucial that we carry a reliable source of power and, as we found out last year in our world record row across the Atlantic, fuel cell technology is much more dependable than solar or wind,’ says David Hosking, skipper of Team Hallin and a retired commander in the Royal Navy. Hosking and his team have already tested the reliability of marine fuel cells. Team Hallin was first introduced to fuel cells in 2009, when they used a new EFOY 160, mounted in a watertight compartment under the rowing deck of their first ORB, a 40 ft (12 m) trimaran called Hallin Marine. ‘We would not have broken the world record for the fastest ever crossing of the Atlantic under oars without the fuel cell,’ says Hosking. ‘It worked excellently and never required any servicing. The fuel cell provided us with guaranteed power for all the key electrical systems onboard, something the solar panels were unable to do.’ The team’s new boat Hallin Marine 2 is currently undergoing a significant fit-out, with extensive sea trials scheduled throughout the autumn and winter. The ‘Round UK Row’ challenge is scheduled for early June 2013, and will depart from Tower Bridge in London. With a crew of four, minimising the amount of weight carried on board the 24 foot (7.3 m) glass fibre reinforced epoxy monohull will be crucial if Team Hallin are to succeed. ‘We’re seeing an increasing demand for fuel cell technology in the leisure sector, particularly from the marine industry,’ says Tom Sperrey, managing director of FCS and its parent company, UPS Systems Plc. ‘From ocean rowing boats to offshore racing yachts, fuel cells are becoming the preferred choice of power supply. Boat owners are attracted by the lightweight, compact design that offers silent running and zero harmful emissions.’ Fuel Cell Systems, Hungerford, Berkshire, UK. Tel: +44 1488 680580, www.fuelcellsystems.co.uk EFOY Comfort fuel cells: www.efoy-comfort.com
SMALL STATIONARY
ReliOn launches units for high duty cycle, grid-support usage
U
S-based ReliOn, which provides high-reliability fuel cell solutions for backup power and grid-support applications, has announced its new
August 2012
NEWS E-1000x and E-2200x products. The new units are part of the company’s plan to address the need for high duty cycle grid-support in a number of situations where alternative power products are used to support a less reliable electrical grid, or no grid at all. The E-1000x and E-2200x – rated at 1 kW and 2.2 kW per chassis, respectively – feature PEM technology that has been optimised around these applications, and the products carry an industry-leading warranty. The E-1000x and E-2200x fuel cell systems are exempt from the most stringent air quality standards, such as those set by the California Air Resources Board, because they produce no harmful emissions. ReliOn has begun shipping pre-commercial products to customers in areas of the world where the grid routinely drops coverage for several hours a day. Commercial product shipments will begin in September, with orders now being accepted. ‘The E-1000x and E-2200x fuel cell systems have been optimised to meet a need from our customers for grid-support power in a variety of locations around the world,’ explains Mark Cohen, ReliOn’s VP of product line management. ‘The E-1000x and E-2200x chassis can be deployed as single or multiple systems. The E-1000x platform is targeted for power requirements from 500 W to 4 kW, while the E-2200x platform targets higher power requirements up to 8.8 kW.’ The new systems join ReliOn’s E-series product line, which provides backup power solutions between 50 W and 20 kW [FCB, March 2012, p4]. ReliOn customers include global leaders in wireless, wired and public safety network communications, railway services and utilities, as well as branches and agencies of US federal and state governments. ReliOn Inc, Spokane, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 228 6500, www.relion-inc.com
VN Tech completes initial trials of Chinese telecom backup power
C
alifornia-based VelaTel Global Communications, a global leader in deploying and operating wireless broadband and telecom networks, reports that its subsidiary VN Technologies has completed its initial round of test trials commissioned by China Mobile Ltd. VN Tech has been
August 2012
operating fuel cells to power base transceiver stations (BTS) at several sites in China [FCB, May 2012, p8]. China Mobile has now submitted a comprehensive report of the test trial results to key ministries of China’s central government. Meanwhile, China Telecom Corporation has also commissioned VN Tech to construct trial test sites in Beijing on its behalf. China Mobile is the largest mobile telephone operator worldwide, with 650 million subscribers. The company is also China’s largest fixed line telephone company, and provides data, multimedia, and other telecoms and information services to more than 200 million subscribers. Between them China Mobile and China Telecom deploy thousands of telecom base transceivers and other infrastructure that require backup power. ‘These test trials with China’s two top telecommunications operators build confidence for the operators, and for the Chinese central government to develop a standard to replace out-of-date backup batteries with hydrogen fuel cell power,’ says Mr Hongye Luo, president of VN Tech. ‘I strongly believe the entire industry will shift towards green energy in the near future.’ VelaTel has also announced that the China Communications Standards Association has appointed Luo to head the technical committee that will develop national standards and specifications for the use of hydrogen fuel cells in the telecom industry. After adoption, these standards will also be submitted to the Telecommunications Standards Sector of the International Telecommunication Union. The strong support from China Mobile and China Telecom positions VN Tech’s product to become the ‘industry standard’ for fuel cell systems in China. Luo’s leadership role in developing standards and specifications also creates the prospect for VN Tech’s fuel cell specifications to be adopted as the ‘government standard’ in China. Other companies are targetting the Chinese telecoms market, including Ballard Power Systems in partnership with Azure Hydrogen Energy Science & Technology Corporation [FCB, July 2012, p4], and German-based FutureE Fuel Cell Solutions, which recently delivered its first Jupiter outdoor fuel cell systems to the State Grid Corporation of China [FCB, June 2012, p6]. VelaTel Global Communications: www.velatel.com VN Technologies: www.velatel.com/projects-brands/vn-tech-china China Communications Standards Association: www.ccsa.org.cn/english
IN BRIEF French Post to run FCEVs in MobyPost A European consortium of companies and research institutes has begun development of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle for the French postal service, La Poste. The ‘solar-to-wheel concept’ is part of the MobyPost initiative (www. mobypost-project.eu), under which 10 fuel cell powered vehicles will be developed and tested at two locations in the Franche-Comté region. A hydrogen production facility using a photovoltaic system has been designed to produce the 1.5 kg/day of hydrogen needed to run the vehicles. The first of two autonomous hydrogen stations will be ready before the end of the year, along with a prototype postal delivery vehicle. The project is being coordinated by the Institut Pierre Vernier (IPV) in France. The other academic participants are the Université de Technologie Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM) in France, and the European Institute for Energy Research (EIFER) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The industrial partners are power electronics and systems producer Ducati Energia in Italy, which is also building the vehicles; Swiss-based MES SA, which is developing an innovative hybrid PEM fuel cell/battery power system; metal hydride tank developer Mahytec in France; and Italian electrolyser manufacturer H2Nitidor. Technology transfer will be handled by IPV and the Steinbeis-EuropaZentrum in Stuttgart, Germany. Fuel cell scooter production in Taiwan The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in Taiwan has announced its safety and reliability standard for hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles, according to the China Post in Taiwan. The MOEA says that scooters produced by some manufacturers, using low-pressure hydrogen storage canisters, have passed the standard and are ready for mass production. MOEA deputy minister Tu Tzu-chun says that the standard for hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles is included in the ongoing regional integration of standards. The ministry is also working on a global standard for such vehicles, paving the way for future exports of hydrogen fuel cell motorcycles. Some 30 hydrogen fuel cell scooters have completed a total of 120 000 km (75 000 miles) in on-road test drives in cities, mountains, and seaside areas. Late last year Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies (www.apfct.com) reported that two of the ten scooters in its fleet field trial in Taiwan had reached 15 000 km (9400 miles) of on-road driving [FCB, January 2012, p11]. The on-road test drive is part of the Demonstration and Verification Program of Hydrogen Energy Industry, sponsored by the Taiwanese Bureau of Energy, with support from the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5