- Email: [email protected]
Testing begins on FCT SOFC using new cell tech
NEWS In recent rigorous lab tests, the stack provided stable and extended power output, indicating the robustness of the all-liquid system. Power density levels exceeding 80 mW/cm2 at room temperature were demonstrated, indicating power capability beyond most currently available competing DMFC systems on a perunit basis under similar operating conditions, says the company. This power level was also attained with a stack that has been reduced in size by more than 70% compared to its first stack prototype demonstration in 2003 [FCB, April 2003]. Contact: Neah Power Systems, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com
Testing begins on FCT SOFC using new cell tech
T
he US Department of Defense’s Fuel Cell Test & Evaluation Center (FCTec) in Pennsylvania recently took delivery of a Fuel Cell Technologies 5 kWe solid oxide fuel cell system, via Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation. FCTec’s know-how will be used to install, operate and evaluate the performance of the SOFC system. The FCT fuel cell system uses a new Siemens Westinghouse cell manufacturing technology, which operates directly from a natural gas supply while providing 5 kW of electrical energy to the facility’s electric grid. The system also produces hot water for use in a combined heating and power application. Canadian-based FCT recently delivered a balance-of-plant system for Siemens Westinghouse to test its new high power density (HPD) cells [FCB, May]. After a six-week testing period at the FCTec, the system will be relocated and installed at a maintenance and repair facility located on the federal campus at Fort Meade, Maryland. A one-year fuel cell demonstration will be conducted at this site, and the power generated will be used to supplement the facility’s energy consumption. The results of this test program and demonstration will be provided to the US Army Engineer Research & Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory.
Contact: Fuel Cell Test & Evaluation Center, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 814 269 2721, www.fctec.com Or contact: Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 613 544 8222, www.fct.ca Or contact: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Stationary Fuel Cells, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 412 256 2022, www.pg.siemens.com/ en/fuelcells
June 2005
Molded carbon/resin separator from Showa Denko
J
apanese chemical company Showa Denko KK (SDK) has developed a high-performance molded carbon/resin separator for PEM fuel cells. The improvement was achieved within a PEMFC system project being organized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which commissioned Mitsubishi Electric Corporation to carry out the project. SDK has utilized its long experience in the production of artificial graphite to develop a new grade of the material consisting of fine particles with optimized shape and size distribution. The new grade has electrical conductivity approximately 10 times that of conventional artificial graphite. The company has also established a new technology to produce a composite material of artificial graphite and resins. The separator based on this technology has high mechanical/flexural strength and durability (resistance to cracking) when artificial graphite is mixed with thermosetting or thermoplastic resins. In addition, SDK has established a highspeed molding technology to produce a separator sheet within about 15 s, which will lead to cost reduction through mass production. The new product is comparable to machined graphite separators with respect to electrical conductivity and durability, but also offers higher crack resistance and cost advantages. Compared with metallic separators, the new product is far more corrosion-resistant, and lighter, the company claims. SDK will provide samples to fuel cell manufacturers for evaluation, while continuing to participate in the NEDO project for further improvements.
Contact: Showa Denko KK, Fine Carbon Department, Omachi, Nagano, Japan. Tel: +81 261 222386, Fax: +81 261 220901, www.sdk.co.jp
Hydrogen generator’s first anniversary at SunLine
A
n Adéo™ hydrogen fuel generator from Illinois-based HyRadix has completed a full year of operation at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. The Adéo system uses proprietary technology developed
In Brief Protonex raises $9m in second round Massachusetts-based Protonex Technology, a manufacturer of high-performance, lightweight fuel cell power systems for portable and remote applications, has raised $9 million in a second round of institutional funding. The financing was led by existing investors Conduit Ventures, SAS Investors, Solstice Capital and Commons Capital, in addition to new investors Parker Hannifin, Contango Capital Management and the Massachusetts Green Energy Fund. Parker Hannifin sees its financial investment in Protonex as a natural extension of their existing strategic partnership [FCB, January]. ‘Parker has been successfully working with Protonex on joint product development, engineering, design, manufacturing and sales initiatives related to fuel cell products,’ says Akbar Naderi, Group VP at Parker Hannifin. ‘Together, Parker and Protonex helped Vectrix Corporation deliver the world’s first high-performance fuel cell/electric scooter, and are actively engaged in developing other products.’ Established in 2000, Protonex (www.protonex.com) manufactures high-performance, long-duration portable and remote power systems. The company provides complete power solutions in the 10–500 We range to OEMs for off-grid applications. Its innovative fuel cell products also complement existing power technologies, and are utilized in hybrid designs. Quantum looking to transfer H2 storage technology to Japanese automakers California-based Quantum Technologies (www.qtww.com) has been negotiating with Japanese carmakers towards transferring technology on hydrogen tanks as early as 2006, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The report – quoting unidentified sources – said that the General Motors affiliate has been pitching its expertise on the key fuel cell vehicle component to Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda, as well as their autoparts affiliates. In addition, Quantum Technologies is apparently talking with GM in Shanghai regarding the transfer of hydrogen tank technology. These are Quantum Technologies’ first efforts to transfer its expertise on hydrogen tanks. Made of carbon fiber, Quantum Technologies’ hydrogen tanks are just one-fifth the weight of comparable aluminum-based products. The firm has been shipping all its output to Japan, and around 75% of the 100 or so fuel cell cars in Japan feature its hydrogen tanks. If successful, the technology transfer, which is expected to concern the company’s 350 and 700 bar (5000 and 10 000 psi) hydrogen tanks, will likely encourage Japanese automakers to put more effort into producing fuel cell vehicles. Sumitomo Corporation has been acting as Quantum Technologies’ exclusive agent in Japan [FCB, June 2003].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
Testing begins on FCT SOFC using new cell tech
T
he US Department of Defense’s Fuel Cell Test & Evaluation Center (FCTec) in Pennsylvania recently took delivery of a Fuel Cell Technologies 5 kWe solid oxide fuel cell system, via Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation. FCTec’s know-how will be used to install, operate and evaluate the performance of the SOFC system. The FCT fuel cell system uses a new Siemens Westinghouse cell manufacturing technology, which operates directly from a natural gas supply while providing 5 kW of electrical energy to the facility’s electric grid. The system also produces hot water for use in a combined heating and power application. Canadian-based FCT recently delivered a balance-of-plant system for Siemens Westinghouse to test its new high power density (HPD) cells [FCB, May]. After a six-week testing period at the FCTec, the system will be relocated and installed at a maintenance and repair facility located on the federal campus at Fort Meade, Maryland. A one-year fuel cell demonstration will be conducted at this site, and the power generated will be used to supplement the facility’s energy consumption. The results of this test program and demonstration will be provided to the US Army Engineer Research & Development Center’s Construction Engineering Research Laboratory.
Contact: Fuel Cell Test & Evaluation Center, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 814 269 2721, www.fctec.com Or contact: Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 613 544 8222, www.fct.ca Or contact: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation, Stationary Fuel Cells, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 412 256 2022, www.pg.siemens.com/ en/fuelcells
June 2005
Molded carbon/resin separator from Showa Denko
J
apanese chemical company Showa Denko KK (SDK) has developed a high-performance molded carbon/resin separator for PEM fuel cells. The improvement was achieved within a PEMFC system project being organized by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which commissioned Mitsubishi Electric Corporation to carry out the project. SDK has utilized its long experience in the production of artificial graphite to develop a new grade of the material consisting of fine particles with optimized shape and size distribution. The new grade has electrical conductivity approximately 10 times that of conventional artificial graphite. The company has also established a new technology to produce a composite material of artificial graphite and resins. The separator based on this technology has high mechanical/flexural strength and durability (resistance to cracking) when artificial graphite is mixed with thermosetting or thermoplastic resins. In addition, SDK has established a highspeed molding technology to produce a separator sheet within about 15 s, which will lead to cost reduction through mass production. The new product is comparable to machined graphite separators with respect to electrical conductivity and durability, but also offers higher crack resistance and cost advantages. Compared with metallic separators, the new product is far more corrosion-resistant, and lighter, the company claims. SDK will provide samples to fuel cell manufacturers for evaluation, while continuing to participate in the NEDO project for further improvements.
Contact: Showa Denko KK, Fine Carbon Department, Omachi, Nagano, Japan. Tel: +81 261 222386, Fax: +81 261 220901, www.sdk.co.jp
Hydrogen generator’s first anniversary at SunLine
A
n Adéo™ hydrogen fuel generator from Illinois-based HyRadix has completed a full year of operation at SunLine Transit Agency in Thousand Palms, California. The Adéo system uses proprietary technology developed
In Brief Protonex raises $9m in second round Massachusetts-based Protonex Technology, a manufacturer of high-performance, lightweight fuel cell power systems for portable and remote applications, has raised $9 million in a second round of institutional funding. The financing was led by existing investors Conduit Ventures, SAS Investors, Solstice Capital and Commons Capital, in addition to new investors Parker Hannifin, Contango Capital Management and the Massachusetts Green Energy Fund. Parker Hannifin sees its financial investment in Protonex as a natural extension of their existing strategic partnership [FCB, January]. ‘Parker has been successfully working with Protonex on joint product development, engineering, design, manufacturing and sales initiatives related to fuel cell products,’ says Akbar Naderi, Group VP at Parker Hannifin. ‘Together, Parker and Protonex helped Vectrix Corporation deliver the world’s first high-performance fuel cell/electric scooter, and are actively engaged in developing other products.’ Established in 2000, Protonex (www.protonex.com) manufactures high-performance, long-duration portable and remote power systems. The company provides complete power solutions in the 10–500 We range to OEMs for off-grid applications. Its innovative fuel cell products also complement existing power technologies, and are utilized in hybrid designs. Quantum looking to transfer H2 storage technology to Japanese automakers California-based Quantum Technologies (www.qtww.com) has been negotiating with Japanese carmakers towards transferring technology on hydrogen tanks as early as 2006, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun. The report – quoting unidentified sources – said that the General Motors affiliate has been pitching its expertise on the key fuel cell vehicle component to Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda, as well as their autoparts affiliates. In addition, Quantum Technologies is apparently talking with GM in Shanghai regarding the transfer of hydrogen tank technology. These are Quantum Technologies’ first efforts to transfer its expertise on hydrogen tanks. Made of carbon fiber, Quantum Technologies’ hydrogen tanks are just one-fifth the weight of comparable aluminum-based products. The firm has been shipping all its output to Japan, and around 75% of the 100 or so fuel cell cars in Japan feature its hydrogen tanks. If successful, the technology transfer, which is expected to concern the company’s 350 and 700 bar (5000 and 10 000 psi) hydrogen tanks, will likely encourage Japanese automakers to put more effort into producing fuel cell vehicles. Sumitomo Corporation has been acting as Quantum Technologies’ exclusive agent in Japan [FCB, June 2003].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7