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Logan receives water award for his microbial fuel cell
University Park, Pa. — Converting waste water into energy has earned Bruce Logan, Kappe professor of environmental engineering, Penn State, the 2009 National Water Research Institute’s Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for excellence in water research.
The prize was established in 1993 to recognize outstanding research scientists who have demonstrated excellence in water-science research and technology. The prize includes a medallion and $50,000 and is awarded annually. Logan is the 16th recipient.
Logan, receives the award for his innovative efforts to generate clean, renewable forms of energy during the treatment of wastewater. The energy needed to power water infrastructure is often cost prohibitive in developing countries. Logan, who is director of Penn State’s Hydrogen Energy Center, has developed an energy-sustainable water infrastructure for both industrialized and developing nations. His microbial fuel cells allow energy generation form organic materials found in wastewater, producing clean water and energy. His microbial electrolysis cells break down organic matter to produce hydrogen — a portable fuel — and clean water.
The author of Microbial Fuel Cells, one of the first books written on the technology, he has also published more than 220 technical papers. He is a Visiting Professor at both Harbin Institute of Technology, China and Newcastle University, U.K., where he focuses on renewable bioenergy producing. He also collaborates with Tsinghua University, China, where he is developing a zero-electrical energy desalination technology. He is a Global Research Partner with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia.
The prize will be awarded on July 9 at the Sixteenth Annual Clarke Prize Lecture and Award Ceremony, Fairmont Newport Beach, Newport Beach, Ca.
Hy9 Corporation Introduces the HGS-M Series of Hydrogen Generators for the $6.5 Billion Backup Power
Hy9 Corporation (http://www.hy9.com), a manufacturer of high performance fuel processing and hydrogen purification systems for the portable power, stationary and backup power, industrial gas and transportation markets, is introducing their HGS-M series of methanol-based hydrogen generators for the stationary power market.
The complete HGS family of hydrogen generators, running hydrocarbon fuels such as methanol or natural gas, when integrated with cost effective PEM fuel cells, provides backup power companies a reliable, cost effective, compact and efficient solution to meet increased customer demand for an extended runtime of 72 hours.
“The HGS-M hydrogen generator provides a superior alternative to the high cost, storage limitations and logistical challenges associated with delivered compressed hydrogen cylinders, giving end-users a practical alternative to batteries and diesel generators. The high energy density of methanol provides for extended runtimes of 72 hours without extensive fuel storage,” says Brad Bradshaw, CEO of Hy9.
The HGS-M series is available in 25 liters per minute and 75 liters per minute hydrogen capacities, corresponding to net 1.7 and 5 kW fuel cell systems. Hy9’s hydrogen generators reliably produce hydrogen in excess of 99.9999% purity, ensuring long-lived, high performance fuel cell operation. The systems are highly scalable due to the unique and compact reformer and membrane purifier design, with the added benefit of a minimal system footprint. In addition, systems can be modified to meet customer’s unique requirements including different capacity levels.
“The HGS-M is designed for PEM fuel cell backup power applications requiring extended runtime hydrogen supply. It operates on a fuel mixture of methanol and water with a fuel consumption rate of just over 1/4th of a gallon per kilowatt-hour. A typical 1.7 kW fuel cell could be powered for 24 hours on just 11 gallons of fuel,” adds Mr. Bradshaw.
Hy9’s unique and patented membrane purifier, a core part of the HGS-M hydrogen generator, eliminates the costly and complex purification steps required of many reformer-based hydrogen generators when coupled with fuel cells. Hy9 has successfully placed close to 1,000 hydrogen purification systems in the field, with over 3 million cumulative hours of operation without any field failures recorded to date.
About Hy9 Corporation
Based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts (USA), Hy9 Corporation designs, manufactures and sells low-cost, high-performance fuel processing and hydrogen purification systems for the portable power, stationary and backup power, industrial gas and transportation markets. For companies deploying fuel cells for stationary and portable power applications, Hy9’s membrane purification and fuel processing solutions enable PEM fuel cells to operate reliably and efficiently over long periods of time on available hydrocarbon fuels, such as methanol and natural gas.
Plug Power (PLUG) Further Adjourns Annual Meeting
Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq: PLUG) announced that it has further adjourned its 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders while it continues discussions with the company’s largest stockholder regarding its vote. The adjourned meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at the offices of Plug Power Inc., 968 Albany Shaker Road, Latham, New York 12110. Stockholders may submit or revoke proxies until the annual meeting. The record date for the annual meeting is March 31, 2009.
Plug Power Inc. is a development stage enterprise involved in the design, development and manufacture of fuel cell systems for industrial-motive (forklift or material handling) markets and stationary power markets worldwide. [SM]
