A £2 million project to advance the safe design and operation of gas turbines, reciprocating engines and combined heat & power systems using hydrogen based fuels has been launched by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI.)

Through new modelling and large-scale experimental work the ETI project will look to identify the bounds of safe design and operation of high efficiency CCGT (combined cycle gas turbine) and CHP (combined heat and power) systems operating on a range of fuels with high and variable concentrations of hydrogen.

The goals of the project are to increase the range of fuels that can be safely used in power and heat generating plant by:
• Indentifying the boundaries of safe design and operation of power generation systems using hydrogen based fuels; and
• identifying improvements in the detailed design and instrumentation of hydrogen fuelled power systems in order to deliver more robust and inherently safer system designs.

The outcomes of this project will benefit the manufacturers and operators of all powerplants which may potentially utilise fuel containing high or variable levels of hydrogen such as gas feeds from landfill and anaerobic digestors.

The project will be led by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, in collaboration with Imperial Consultants, the consulting arm of Imperial College.

The project will investigate the impact of a ‘flameout’ in a CCGT or reciprocating engine CHP system, which may result in an explosive mixture of fuel and air being pumped into a hot exhaust system before the flameout is detected. This in turn could lead to an explosion.

ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: “This ETI project will help improve the fundamental design, safety, and operation of future high hydrogen systems, as well as help inform new standards.

“The project will be a significant step in creating industry confidence in using high hydrogen fuels and taking the UK towards greater use of what have to be treated today as ‘waste fuels’ because of uncertainty in how to control their combustion. Looking ahead, greater use of fuels from sources such as waste reprocessing will be an important part of improving energy costs and energy security for all UK consumers.”

Eddie Morland, HSL CEO commented: “We are delighted to be leading this crucial research project which will contribute to helping the UK reach its energy targets. At HSL we have an impressive track record of enabling new technologies, so the opportunity to work on such an innovative project is one that we will relish.”

Imperial Consultants Director of Operations, Dr Alister McDermott added: “Imperial Consultants welcomes the opportunity to be involved in this ETI project that will advance the safe use of hydrogen based fuels. Providing expertise in the flammability, ignition and detonation of high-hydrogen fuel compositions, our consultants will assist in developing safer solutions to the design and operation of gas turbines.”

The project has been developed with the input of industry and with the additional input of academics from Europe and North America.

The ETI is also commissioning a project to develop and demonstrate next generation carbon capture technologies specifically for gas fired power stations.
An announcement on who will carry out the work on this project is expected by early 2012.

The ETI is a public private partnership between six global industrial companies – BP, Caterpillar, EDF, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell – and the UK Government tasked with developing “mass scale” technologies that will help the UK meet its 2020 and 2050 energy targets. It is concerned with identifying affordable, sustainable and secure energy across heat, power, transport and the infrastructure that links them.

Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are working to optimize a promising new nanomaterial called nanoblades for use in hydrogen storage. During their testing of the new material, they have discovered that it can store and release hydrogen extremely fast and at low temperatures compared to similar materials. Another important aspect of the new material is that it is also rechargeable. These attributes could make it ideal for use in onboard hydrogen storage for next-generation hydrogen or fuel cell vehicles.

The findings on the performance of the nanoblades are published in the September 2011 edition of The International Journal of Hydrogen Energy in an article titled “Low-temperature cycling of hydrogenation-dehydrogenation of Pd-decorated Mg nanoblades.” The research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

The scientists created the magnesium-based nanoblades for the first time in 2007. Unlike three-dimensional nanosprings and rods, nanoblades are asymmetric. They are extremely thin in one dimension and wide in another dimension, creating very large surface areas. They also are spread out with up to one micron in between each blade.

In order to store hydrogen, a large surface area with space in between nanostructures is needed to provide room for the material to expand as more hydrogen atoms are stored. The vast surface area and ultrathin profile of each nanoblade, coupled with the spaces between each blade, could make them ideal for this application, according to Gwo-Ching Wang, professor of physics, applied physics, and astronomy at Rensselaer.

Teruhisa HORITA
Energy Technology Research Institute

We have developed a labeling technique using stable isotope oxygen (¹⁸O) for “direct observation” of oxygen/oxide ion movements at the cathode/interlayer/electrolyte interfaces in a practical flatten-tube solid oxide fuel cells. The traces of oxygen motions were labeled during fuel cell reaction (current density of 0.25 A/cm² at 650 °C), and the ¹⁸O incorporation and diffusion were visualized in a “frozen state” by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). The active ¹⁸O ionization and incorporation sites were found to be in the CeO₂-interlayer between cathode and electrolyte. The higher ¹⁸O-concentration in the electrolyte was identified at the bottom of cell (higher current density at bottom).

Schematic diagrams of 18O2 incorporation into flatten tube SOFC stack (A), diffusion of 18O inside the single cell (B), diffusion of 18O2 and ionic flow of 18O2- (C), and SIMS image of 18O at the interfaces (D)

Chris Reiter -Bloomberg

Daimler AG (DAI), the world’s third- largest maker of luxury vehicles, is in advanced talks about expanding its fuel cell partners beyond Ford Motor Co. (F) as it targets widescale production of the technology, development chief Thomas Weber said today in an interview at the Internationa Motor Show in Frankfurt.

The Stuttgart, Germany-based maker of Mercedes-Benz vehicles is in talks with other automakers as well as companies that would set up a hydrogen fuel station network, Weber said.

Daimler, which introduced a fuel cell-powered concept vehicle in Frankfurt, plans to produce more than 1,000 B-Class F-Cell vehicles, which are powered by the chemical reaction that creates water. The production run will rise to more than 10,000 with a next generation in 2017, Weber said.

Mercedes plans to expand its fuel cell offering with a sedan below the S-Class by 2017, he said. Daimler and Ford both own stakes in Automotive Fuel Cell Corp.

Ah who needs Frankfurt any hey?! Not when yours truly was lucky enough to head down to the low carbon motoring show Ecovelocity last week, and along with throngs of green car fans watch the Hyundai ix35 FCEV car makes its UK debut.

One of the first hydrogen fuel cell cars to even be seen in the UK, even just in pre-production form, the FCEV appeared at the Battersea Power Station plant in London over four days to give the lucky attendees the chance to have a ride-along around the show’s 0.8 mile track. I was among one of those who tried a fuel cell vehicle for the first time, and what can I say, other than it appears to drive and handle very much like an electric car.

But what is really impressive about the Hyundai hydrogen-powered car, currently being trialled in Korea and Copenhagen, is its performance stats. Unlike electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell cars will be able to achieve a driving range very much like a fossil-fuelled car, with Hyundai targeting a range of around 360 miles. What’s more, is that refuelling with compressed hydrogen can take minutes, like refuelling with petrol or diesel does. And while hydrogen fuel cell cars are currently hampered by a lack of refuelling infrastructure and high production costs-those costs are falling and car makers like this Korean brand are working to establish refuelling options.

In fact the Korean car maker is targeting a price of around US$50,000 (£31,625) by the time it intends to go into commercial production by 2015. This early prototype’s 144 litres hydrogen fuel tank could cost as little as $30 (£19) to fill, giving an estimated cost per mile of around 5p.

The ix35 FCEV has a maximum speed of 100 mph and zero-to-62mph time of 12.8 seconds. The fuel cell stack can operate at sub-zero temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius, meaning no worries about the cold weather effects on the car. Yet unlike a combustion-engined car, the ix35′s only emissions are water vapour.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who opened the Ecovelocity show, was also there to welcome the Hyundai fuel cell car, as the video above shows.

Just to add to the futuristic feel of the show, Honda’s FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car was also at the show, taking part in the green parade round the showground.

Itaipu Binacional has signed an agreement with Italy’s Liguria Technological District for Integrated Intelligent Systems (SIIT) to study the incorporation of hydrogen into Paraguay’s energy matrix.

A delegation from Itaipu and its technological park PTI will travel to Genoa to work with SIIT to determine the model, size and feasibility of implementing a hydrogen pilot plant, Itaipu said in a statement.

Results will be submitted to Paraguayan authorities to see if the project is included in the government’s energy policy. The study will take four to six months.

“Hydrogen is a very important energy and perhaps the most important of the future,” Itaipu advisor Franklyn Boccia was quoted as saying.

Itaipu first met with SIIT in 2009 and signed a pledge to carry out the work the following year.

According to the US Department of Energy, “eventually hydrogen will join electricity as the major energy carrier, supplying every end-use energy need in the economy, including transportation, central and distributed electric power, portable power, and combined heat and power for buildings and industrial processes.”

Latest Investment Plan leverages federal stimulus money, private capital
to help transform California fuels and vehicles

SACRAMENTO – The California Energy Commission has unanimously adopted the state’s third annual transportation energy Investment Plan to help change the types of vehicles Californians drive and the fuels they use. The latest Investment Plan for the Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program prioritizes $100 million in state funds to leverage funding and investments from federal agencies, research institutions, private investors, auto manufacturers and other stakeholders.

“This innovative transportation investment program is unique in the country,” said Energy Commission Vice Chair James Boyd. “The funding plan approved yesterday for fiscal year 2011-2012 builds on two earlier versions, fine-tuning California’s seven-year program to increase alternative and renewable fuels and to test innovative vehicle technologies. This investment will also create California jobs, improve the environment and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. An essential element of the California’s climate change and energy policies, this program successfully attracts outside investment and promotes sustainable transportation alternatives within our state.”

Assembly Bill 118 (Núñez, Chapter 750, Statutes of 2007) authorized the Energy Commission to provide approximately $100 million annually over seven years to encourage new fuels and technologies. Funding comes from such sources as vehicle registrations, vessel registrations, identification plates, and smog abatement fees. The Energy Commission’s first investment plan combined $176 million in funds from fiscal years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010. The second investment plan, for fiscal year 2010-2011, provided $83 million.

Funds from the earlier plans were used to help California entities successfully compete for federal funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Projects leveraged with California’s investment of $36.5 million attracted nearly $105.3 million in ARRA funds and $113.3 million in private funding.

The 2011-2012 plan allocates $100 million to encourage this menu of transportation investments:

• $8 million to increase charging infrastructure and support for full electric and plug-in electric vehicles, which are expected to surpass 20,000 sales in California by 2012.
• $8.5 million to support hydrogen fueling stations and to demonstrate fuel cell technology. Fuel cell vehicles are expected to number in the tens of thousands in California after 2015.
• $24.5 million to boost the number of natural gas- and propane-powered vehicles in the state and the fueling stations that support them. Natural gas- and propane-powered vehicles help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality; natural gas and propane prices are also less volatile than petroleum prices.
• $24 million to help develop and produce biofuels such as gasoline and diesel substitutes and renewable natural gas. California possesses a significant volume of waste suitable for creating low-carbon fuels – from ethanol and biodiesel to biomethane made from anaerobically digested biomass.
• $5 million to expand the number of dispensers and retail outlets selling E85 -fuel made up of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
• $8 million to develop and demonstrate technology that will improve the efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Battery electric applications, hybrid hydraulics, fuel cells and other advanced technology can make these on- and off-road vehicles cleaner and more efficient. Although medium- and heavy-duty vehicles make up only 4 percent of the state’s transportation mix, they account for 16 percent of the state’s petroleum consumption and its greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
• $10 million to fund projects that establish commercial-scale clean transportation manufacturing facilities in California. Attracting new manufacturing plants that produce alternative fuel vehicles and components will provide California with long-term jobs, environmental benefits, and increased tax revenue.
• $3 million to encourage developing innovative technologies and advanced fuels, and to take advantage of federal cost sharing opportunities. Examples of the types of projects that could be funded include ways to improve engine efficiencies, to develop new lightweight construction materials for vehicles, or to create biofuels from new high-productivity feedstocks such as algae.
• $9 million to establish training programs to create a skilled workforce able to manufacture low-emissions vehicles and components, produce alternative fuels, build fueling infrastructure, service and maintain fleets and equipment, and explain the newly emerging transportation market. In addition to training, the program will fund sustainability research, public education and technical assistance programs.

California is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, decrease petroleum fuel use to 15 percent below 2003 levels by 2020, and increase alternative fuel use to 20 percent by 2020.

More information about the Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program is available at the Energy Commission’s DRIVE website at: www.energy.ca.gov/drive/

New Facility Means Increased Development, Production & Testing Capabilities for H2scan and Reduced Lead Times for Customers & Partners

AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), a leading developer of alkaline fuel cells, announces that Ian Williamson has been appointed Chief Executive of the Company with effect from 14 November (Berlin: NBXB.BE) 2011. Ian joins AFC Energy from Air Products (NYSE: APD) where he worked for 26 years, most recently holding the position of Hydrogen (Other OTC: HYDGQ.PK) and Bio Energy Systems Director.

Ian has significant experience within the industrial gas sector particularly centred on the manufacture, provision, distribution and commercial sale of Hydrogen. He is very well known in the industry and his external positions include President of the European Hydrogen Association, Vice President of PATH (the Partnership for the Transition (Berlin: RFYA.BE) to Hydrogen), Director of CENEX (the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies) and Board Member of the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. Most recently Ian has been leading Air Products’ new venture into the renewable energy market and has been instrumental in obtaining planning permission for the proposed 49MW advanced gasification power plant to be built in Teesside.

Ian Williamson, currently holds no shares in AFC Energy, he will be granted an option over 1,000,000 ordinary shares in AFC Energy upon his appointment as a director of AFC Energy.

Tim Yeo, Chairman of AFC Energy plc, commented: “I am delighted that we have attracted someone of the calibre of Ian to lead the Company. His decision to join AFC Energy after a successful career at Air Products is a reflection of his belief in the tremendous commercialisation opportunities that the Company has.”

Ian Williamson commented: “I have known and admired the work of AFC Energy for some time. In my opinion, the commissioning of its beta system puts AFC significantly ahead of its competitors in developing a viable low cost, low carbon alternative to conventional electricity generation. I am excited at the prospect of leading the Company through its next phase.”

By Christoph Rauwald– Dow Jones Newswires

IRVINE, Calif. – Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: QTWW) announced today that it has been awarded a purchase contract from Daimler AG (DAI.DE) for ultra-light weight hydrogen storage tanks.  Under this contract, Quantum will develop 10,000 psi (70 MPa) high capacity carbon fiber composite hydrogen tanks that are designed specifically for potential use in future Mercedes Benz zero emission fuel cell electric vehicles.

Quantum will apply its advanced ultra-light weight carbon composite and polymer liner technology to design and validate hydrogen tanks to the latest European standards and additionally to the stringent Mercedes Benz safety, performance and durability specifications.

Quantum launched the world’s first ultra-light weight 10,000 psi (70 MPa) on-board hydrogen storage tanks in 2001, and continued to improve the technology with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, to maintain industry leadership in storage efficiency and to optimize for production scale up.

About Quantum

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a fully integrated alternative energy company, is a leader in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems, energy storage technologies, and alternative fuel vehicles. Quantum’s wholly owned subsidiary, Schneider Power Inc., and affiliate Asola Advanced and Automotive Solar Systems GmbH complement Quantum’s emerging renewable energy presence through the development and ownership of wind and solar farms, and manufacture of high efficiency solar modules. Quantum’s portfolio of technologies includes electronic controls, hybrid electric drive systems, natural gas and hydrogen storage and metering systems and alternative fuel technologies that enable fuel efficient, low emission hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric, fuel cell, and natural gas vehicles. Quantum’s powertrain engineering, system integration, vehicle manufacturing, and assembly capabilities provide fast-to-market solutions to support the production of hybrid and plug-in hybrid, hydrogen-powered hybrid, fuel cell, natural gas fuel, and specialty vehicles, as well as modular, transportable hydrogen refueling stations. Quantum’s customer base includes automotive OEMs, dealer networks, fleets, aerospace industry, military and other government entities, and other strategic alliance partners.

A great deal of interest in the cutaway model of the B-Class F-CELL from Daimler during the fuel cell specialist forum f-cell 2010. On September 26 and 27, 2011, the f-cell event organizers expect record numbers of visitors. Photo: Peter Sauber Agentur

What does the future of the passenger car look like? During the international fuel cell specialist forum f-cell, vehicle manufacturers will report on their concepts for future electric mobility with fuel cells and batteries. The congress and trade fair on September 26 and 27 in Stuttgart will also provide information on the latest progress in the use of fuel cells in portable devices, stationary applications for household energy or emergency power supplies, as well as on hydrogen manufacturing, infrastructure, and storage. “The number of registered visitors already looks like breaking all the records,” say the event organizers.

Stuttgart (eos) – 2012 and 2014/2015: Anyone who is interested in vehicles with electric drives knows these years. This is namely when consumers are to be able to buy the first battery-electric cars or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles from their dealers. Representatives of the vehicle manufacturers Daimler, BMW, Opel, Toyota, and Daihatsu will be reporting on the technologies and strategies they want to use to define tomorrow’s mobility during the eleventh international fuel cell specialist forum f-cell on 26 and 27 September in Stuttgart. At Ride & Drive, f-cell visitors will also be able to test-drive some of the vehicles that are being presented. On the whole, the visitors can expect approximately 70 lectures from international experts in twelve topical forums as well as a trade fair with around 50 exhibitors from the industry.

Daimler: Fuel cell vehicles from 2014 onwards
The fact that the courses the car manufacturers have set for the enhancement of their model ranges differ is underscored by statements from f-cell speakers from Daimler, Toyota, and Daihatsu. Dr. Jörg Wind of Daimler reports that, following the successful F-CELL World Drive, the corporate group wants to place fuel cell vehicles on the market one year earlier than planned – namely in 2014. At the same time, the company is driving forward the market launch of vehicles with hybrid drives and battery-driven electric vehicles. Daimler is also committed to establishing a hydrogen filling station infrastructure: Together with Linde, they plan to set up 20 hydrogen filling stations in Germany as of 2012. An expert from Linde will be reporting at the f-cell on what these “filling stations of the future” will look like.

Plans at Toyota and Daihatsu
Toyota would like to be represented on the markets in the USA, Europe and Japan with battery-electric vehicles by 2012 and with fuel cell passenger cars from around 2015 onwards. A special focal point of the Japanese manufacturer is plug-in hybrid vehicles that combine electric motors and internal combustion engines. “We believe this is the central environmental protection technology of the 21st century,” says f-cell speaker Kojima Koichi of Toyota. “The technological components of hybrid vehicles are also necessary for the development of other ecological cars, which means they prepare the ground.” Dr. Hirohisa Tanaka of Daihatsu will report during the f-cell on the planned deployment of platinum-free, liquid-fueled, anionic fuel cells.

A glance under the hood of a HydroGen4 from Opel during the Ride & Drive at the f-cell 2010. During the specialist forum f-cell on September 26 and 27, 2011, there will once again be an opportunity test-drive fuel cell cars. Photo: Peter Sauber Agentur

Extensive interest in information on electric vehicles
The interest in this year’s f-cell main topic “Mobile applications – fuel cells and batteries move the future” is extensive. This view is shared by the event organizers, the Peter Sauber Agentur Messen und Kongresse GmbH and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (WSR – economic promotion). “We have never had so many registrations at the beginning of September as in this year,” reports Peter Sauber, who expects the outstanding results in the f-cell anniversary year of 2010 to be exceeded once again this year with a rise in the number of participants. “The registration are coming in from all over the world: from the USA and Canada, but also from South Africa, Japan, China, and Russia.” An increasing number of participants use the f-cell as a platform to make new business contacts and to reinforce existing ones – the f-cell trade fair is thus developing into an increasingly important element of the event. For the regional economic promotion agency WRS, the f-cell is a central component of activities regarding the topic of electromobility: “With this international event, the Stuttgart region presents itself to experts from all over the world as a location that wants to be involved with a leading position in the gradual transition to alternative drives, thus securing the technological leadership and market shares of tomorrow at an early stage,” explains WRS CEO Dr. Walter Rogg.

More information and registration
Those who are interested will find the f-cell program of lectures by experts, the possibility to register for the congress, and other information on the event homepage www.f-cell.de. The Peter Sauber Agency provides information at: f-cell@messe-sauber.de

Food Processing and Power Plant Applications for Asian and South American Customers

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that the Company has received orders totaling $5M for the delivery of electrolyzers to customers in Asia and South America. The electrolyzers and associated services will be utilized by food processing facilities and thermal power plants, with delivery expected over the next six to nine months.

“We are pleased to see continued strengthening in our industrial end markets in Asia and South America. These recent wins provide a strong position to support our growth plans for 2012 and beyond,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and Chief Executive Officer.

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Microcell Corporation announced today that they have reached a level of technology development where modular fuel cells can be produced to scale power generation from a few kW to several hundred kW by simple addition of its independent and modular fuel cell tubes.

“Microcell technology is based on the fractal concept where a simple geometry is repeated to a larger and larger building block,” explained Ray Eshraghi, the Chief Executive Officer of Microcell.

In this case the simple repeating unit is a micro-tubular fuel cell with a diameter of about 900 microns and a length of about one foot.

The advancement of the technology has reached the fourth order of repetition which will allow scale up to very large fuel cell power plants by simple addition of modular tubes that operate independently.

This advancement in scale up has been attained while maintaining the ability to remove and replace fuel cells at two stages of repetition.

“While Microcell will focus on 3-5kW micro-CHP fuel cell units for the back up power market in the short term, it now has the option of building larger Combined Heat and Power plants on a customized

basis as required,” explained Andy Williams, Microcell Chief Financial Officer. Williams added, “This simply underlines the versatility of the technology – to start with a fuel cell unit of only 1-1.5W and deliver power generation units of any size.”

Microcell is the world leader in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Microfiber fuel cells. The company’s extrusion based, micro-tubular platform distinguishes it from other fuel cell technologies.

Microcell currently offers Micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) products for back up power applications. Microcell is headquartered in Raleigh with a manufacturing facility in Robersonville, North Carolina.

Colin Poitra-UConn Today

A PureCell fuel cell system. (Photo provided by UTC Power)

In partnership with UTC Power, the University will begin using a fuel cell power plant to supply energy, heat, and cooling to buildings at the Depot campus in spring 2012. The project is part of UConn’s ongoing commitment to sustainable energy and a reduction of its carbon footprint.

The 400kW UTC Power PureCell fuel cell system will provide clean, efficient, and reliable energy to all buildings on the Depot campus, including important research laboratories and offices at UConn’s Center for Clean Energy and Engineering and Longley Building. The Depot campus is located a short distance from the Storrs campus.

“We are very excited to work with UTC Power on this innovative public-private partnership that will bring clean energy generation to the Depot campus,” says Mun Choi, dean of UConn’s School of Engineering. “This initiative represents the first installation of a fuel cell this size in a college or university in New England, and demonstrates UConn’s deep commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.”

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The fuel cell installation advances the University’s 2010 Climate Action Plan, which outlines more than 200 strategies for achieving a carbon-neutral Storrs campus by 2050. The plan aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels through infrastructure improvements, new technologies, and greater use of alternative fuel sources. The plan also calls for the University to raise awareness about environmental sustainability and climate change through its daily operations and educational activities.

Ongoing improvements in sustainable energy and resource conservation allowed UConn to improve its ranking on the Sierra Club’s annual greenest schools list from 49th overall in 2009 to 16th this year. University officials expect the new fuel cell to propel UConn into the top 10 on the Sierra Club’s ‘coolest schools’ list once it goes online. The Sierra Club’s listings are based on surveys sent to more than 900 schools across the country.

Prabhakar Singh, director of UConn’s Center for Clean Energy and Engineering, and Tricia Bergman, associate director, at the Depot campus. (Sheila Foran/UConn Photo)

“This fuel cell unit represents a key component of our clean energy initiative,” says Prabhakar Singh, director of UConn’s Center for Clean Energy and Engineering (C2E2) and the UTC Professor of Fuel Cell Technology. “By installing this unit, we are going to reduce our carbon footprint significantly. And this is a great educational tool for students and faculty in terms of teaching and demonstration. We’ll be able to show and monitor the unit’s performance through dashboards that will be installed both at [the Longley Building] and C2E2.”

Based in South Windsor, UTC Power is a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) and a world leader in fuel cell technology. UTC Power fuel cells can be found in 19 different countries on six continents. The PureCell system is a combined heat and power device that can operate independently of, or in conjunction with, the commercial power grid and provides clean, efficient energy that easily meets the most stringent emissions requirements. This commercially proven system also boasts an industry-best 10-year cell stack life and an overall system efficiency of up to 90 percent, which is nearly three times that of typical central generation. A fuel cell converts natural gas into electricity and heat through a combustion-free, electrochemical process, of which the only byproducts are water and heat.

Clean, efficient energy

“UTC Power is proud to partner with UConn to deliver clean, efficient energy with the PureCell system and to help meet the goals of their Climate Action Plan,” says Joe Triompo, vice president and general manager of UTC Power. “We are thrilled that our fuel cell technology will power the very buildings where UConn is conducting important fuel cell research every day.”

Funding for the UConn fuel cell installation was secured through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, as part of the distributed generation program.

“This fuel cell will not only support the important energy-related research occurring at C2E2 but it will also be an important educational tool for UConn students,” says Bryan Garcia, president of the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority. “Student access to clean energy technologies such as fuel cells ensures that our graduates will be well prepared to join the clean energy workforce now being advanced across Connecticut.”

“

This initiative represents the first installation of a fuel cell this size in a college or university in New England, and demonstrates UConn’s deep commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

”

Created by the Connecticut General Assembly in 2011, the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority is the successor organization to the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. Its mission is to promote, develop, and invest in clean energy and energy efficiency projects in order to strengthen Connecticut’s economy, protect community health, improve the environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state.

Once the PureCell unit goes online, UConn will derive power from the fuel cell, which will be served by existing natural gas lines on the Depot campus. The new energy system will result in a net reduction of about 600,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year, according to University estimates. It will reduce emissions of gaseous nitrogen compounds, sulphuric compounds, particulate matter, and other volatile organic compounds. Any excess energy produced by the PureCell system will be fed into the commercial grid.

The fuel cell will provide energy to all buildings at the Depot campus, including cooling  and heating for several large research bays in the Center for Clean Energy and Engineering and heating for the Longley Building. UConn’s Center for Clean Energy and Engineering is staffed by some of the top energy researchers in the country, who came to UConn through the state of Connecticut’s Eminent Faculty Initiative in Sustainable Energy. The initiative, launched in 2007 and jointly funded by the state and private business investment, supplied UConn with $4 million to recruit top scholars in order to strengthen the state’s and UConn’s technological leadership. Researchers at the center are advancing science in smart grid technologies, photovoltaic solar energy, fuel cells, computational modeling, advanced combustion technologies, and other areas.

In addition to Prabhakar Singh, other participants in the University’s initiative include Tricia Bergman, associate director of C2E2; Matt Larson, director of procurement; Alex Roe, director of planning; Ron Gaudet, UConn energy manager; Ugur Pasaogullari, associate professor of mechanical engineering; and Radenka Maric, CCEF professor of sustainable energy in the chemical, materials, and biomolecular engineering department.

By FRANK URQUHART-scotsman.com

ACSEF announced yesterday that the development of the 30-mile corridor was ahead of schedule with 30 per cent of the £750m investment potential already under way, and the development of almost 600 acres of new business space.

Sara Budge, the Energetica project director, revealed that research work was now being tendered to explore the feasibility of using geothermal and hydrogen for combined heat and power plants for the key buildings within the corridor.

The project team are also planning to pave the way for the country’s first hydrogen highway. She explained: “A bid has been lodged for European funding to look at the development of hydrogen buses and a world-first in hydrogen coaches to deliver low-carbon transport from Aberdeen up to Peterhead as a pilot Scotland.

“The initiative includes a significant local transport player, bus manufacturers and energy companies.”

FC-R&D has released ZEEP24, a totally self-sufficient power supply system. ZEEP24 uses natural energy, in the form of sunlight, water, and hydrogen. With this system, electricity is generated during the day using solar panels, and some of it is used to produce hydrogen, by electrolyzing water. The hydrogen is stored, and used to generate electricity in fuel cells.

“In Japanese homes during the day, usually, not much electricity is used, as both parents are working and the children are at school. So with solar power, there’s often excess capacity during the day. With this system, the excess capacity isn’t sold; instead, it’s used to produce stored hydrogen, another energy source, through electrolysis. Hydrogen is used because it has high energy density, so it takes up a tenth of the space of an ordinary storage battery.”

ZEEP 24 utilizes a hydrogen storage alloy, developed to absorb hydrogen. Consequently, even while the system isn’t being used, it doesn’t discharge naturally, so it doesn’t consume unnecessary power. Also, there’s no carbon in the system, so there’s no carbon-induced deterioration as with an ordinary battery.

“With 500 cc of water, you can produce 500 liters of hydrogen. With 500 liters of hydrogen, you can theoretically generate 1,500 Wh of electricity. So you could produce 100 W for 15 hours, say. ZEEP24 can store 1,500 liters of hydrogen, so it can generate about 5,000 Wh, which is enough to meet the night-time requirements of one household.”

“Basically, this system is intended for use in areas that don’t have an electricity supply yet, or places where the supply has been knocked out by a disaster. It can also serve as an emergency power supply, if electricity becomes needed for 2 or 3 days. In that sense, this is a power supply for communities or emergencies. And because it’s also far more compact than ordinary power supplies, we think there’ll be a variety of customers for it.”

FC-R&D is also working on applications, such as attaching the hydrogen storage container directly to a hydrogen-powered car.

PENN YAN, N.Y.– GreenCell Inc. today announced the further milestone in the development of its UltraTemp-C technology. Through its Co-Owner, SenCer Inc., a program partially funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Agency (NYSERDA) to develop a clean firing solution for silica sensitive products has been successful. A new form of High Temperature furnaces is now online for the manufacturing of igniters, fuel cells, and automotive sensors. This technology allows for a green, low cost manufacturing of the UltraTemp-C products of GreenCell. This will further the low, cost competitive nature of GreenCell’s products and lead to higher manufacturing quality levels at a much lower cost. Silica contamination of critical fuel cell and sensor components will now be easily remedied. These High Temperature Systems will be available themselves for commercial sales.

About GreenCell, Incorporated

GreenCell is engaged in a joint venture with SenCer Inc. to develop, commercialize and market SenCer’s UltraTemp^TM ceramic composite materials for Home and Transportation applications. GreenCell has identified multiple industries with significant commercial applications with potential revolutionary results. Some of the many applications for this technology are SOFC Fuel Cells, Igniters, Braking, Oxygen Sensors, and Ceramic Heaters.

Sub-Megawatt Power Plant to Demonstrate Stationary Fuel Cell Benefits at a Showcase Installation in Indonesia

DANBURY, Conn– FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL) a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants, today announced market expansion into Indonesia with the sale of a sub-megawatt Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) module to partner POSCO Power for installation at a showcase location in Indonesia. POSCO Power will combine the fuel cell module with locally manufactured balance of plant and install the complete fuel cell power plant at a heavily visited waterpark resort in Jakarta, Indonesia. This high exposure installation will demonstrate the benefits of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power generation as POSCO Power develops a market for megawatt class power plants in Southeast Asia, starting with Indonesia and to be followed by Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.

“Establishing a presence in Jakarta, Indonesia with a Direct FuelCell power plant is the first overseas expansion for POSCO Power and is the first commercial stationary fuel cell power plant to be installed in Southeast Asia outside of South Korea,” said Soung-Sik Cho, Chief Executive Officer for POSCO Power. ”I am pleased to be leading POSCO Power as the organization moves from a technology importer to a green and high-tech ambassador of ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power generation in Asia.”

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world with a population of approximately 245 million and is the world’s eighth largest producer of natural gas. With growing power needs from an expanding urban middle class, Indonesian utilities need scalable baseload distributed generation. The virtual lack of emissions combined with quiet operation of DFC plants, facilitates their siting in populated areas. The scalable nature of DFC plants permits utilities to add power in cost effective increments as demand warrants. Distributed generation also improves energy security and energy reliability while reducing the need to build and maintain costly transmission and distribution.

“POSCO Power has ordered 140 megawatts of ultra-clean Direct FuelCell power plants and fuel cell components since 2007,” said Chip Bottone, President and CEO for FuelCell Energy, Inc. “With this strong market development base of expertise and having developed strong ties with the Indonesian Government, POSCO Power is well positioned to build on their success in South Korea with fuel cell power plant exports throughout Indonesia and Southeast Asia.”

DFC plants are fuel flexible, operating on natural gas or renewable biogas. Given Indonesia’s abundant supplies of domestic natural gas and desire to reduce pollutants and carbon emissions, DFC plants are an attractive power generation solution for Indonesian utilities and independent power producers. Fuel cells generate electricity cleanly and efficiently using an electrochemical process that does not involve combustion. The lack of combustion eliminates almost all pollutants such as NOx, SOx or particulate matter.

DFC plants are 47 percent electrically efficient, which is higher than any other power generation of a similar size. High efficiency results in fuel savings as a greater amount of electricity is generated from each unit of fuel and high efficiency also reduces carbon emissions, helping customers reach sustainability goals. In addition to ultra-clean power, DFC plants generate usable high quality heat suitable for generating steam and can achieve efficiencies up to 90 percent in a combined heat and power (CHP) configuration. The heat from this power plant is expected to be used for facility heating and cooling.

As the market in Indonesia and Southeast Asia develops, FuelCell Energy will build and export the core fuel cell components to South Korea where POSCO Power will stack the components to create fuel cell modules. The modules will be combined with locally built or sourced balance of plant and the completed DFC plant will be shipped to Indonesia. In addition to the revenue generated from the sale of components, POSCO Power will pay a royalty to FuelCell Energy for each complete power plant built under a 2009 licensing agreement.

The 300 kilowatt DFC300 power plant is expected to be operating by the end of 2012 at Ancol Dreamland resort in Jakarta, Indonesia, one of the most highly visited tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

About FuelCell Energy

Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. The Company’s power plants have generated over 850 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers around the world. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

Stephen On

Toyota is known for its hybrids, and Nissan for its EV agenda, but when it comes to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, it is Honda who have been leading the way with their FCX Clarity model – a green car that even Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson likes.

Now Honda is teaming up with ANA (All Nippon Airways) at the request of HySUT (The Research Association of Hydrogen Supply/Utilization Technology) to offer the Clarity to passengers on international flights at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport from September 5th, 2011.

The Clarity has been available in limited lease programs around the world, but it seems that this latest move will have a number of benefits for Honda:

First of all, it will give a lot of people an opportunity to take what is likely to be their first ride in a hydrogen fuel cell car.

While most people have ridden in a hybrid, and with Nissan’s Leaf in particular greatly increasing the pool of people who have experienced an electric car, Honda does not want to be left behind and discover that they have invested a huge amount of capital in a power train that the public really don’t feel sure about.

A corollary of the first reason is that getting more people into the FCX Clarity (albeit as passengers, rather than drivers) will give an exponential return in customer feedback. I would be very surprised if the customers were not encouraged to complete some sort of survey during or after the journey, or at least the driver should be encouraged to elicit comments from his passengers as he drives. Of course, this would require an English-speaking driver, so I suspect some kind of online or written survey is more likely.

Finally, the route from Narita into Tokyo is going to give the Clarity a great workout on a variety of roads, from the faster more free-flowing expressways, to the congested urban stop-start of traffic light hopping that is the typical driving in Japanese built-up areas.

Whereas lease cars will often be used as commuters and so spend a lot of their day sitting idle in parking spaces, the Narita service is going to make much more stringent and constant demands on the Clarity, which I am sure will provide a wealth of data for Honda technicians to mull over.

The question is, though, when (if ever) will we see a fuel cell vehicle like this being sold in any real numbers as an ICE car alternative? Honda has been testing prototypes as well as running field trials of the FCX and now FCX Clarity for over 5 years now, but is it getting any closer to being the finished product – or will it simply be an evolutionary dead-end in the annals of automotive history?

We can but hope that this latest trial at Narita will be one of the last stages in this process of bringing this technology to market

Source: Nikkei (Japanese)

This blog post called “Honda FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Limousine Service Comes To Narita Airport, Tokyo” is (c) 2011 Integrity Exports Co. Ltd. – “Taking the stress out of buying from car auctions in Japan.”

Ruggedized fuel cell power source enables persistent surveillance on small-footprint, low-cost system

Small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provide valuable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for units at the infantry company level and below, allowing over-the-next-hill imagery or short-term monitoring of convoys as an example.  State-of-the-art battery power for these small UASs, however, has limited the duration of missions to about two hours.

“A small unmanned aircraft system with long-endurance capability could give the military the ability to do with a small craft what has previously been doable only with larger airframes.  This has potential for tremendous cost savings – we can maintain and even improve on our UAS capabilities with a much smaller footprint and lower operating cost,” said Brian Holloway, DARPA program manager for this effort.

DARPA’s Tactical Advanced Power (TAP) program has addressed the power limitation by developing a compact solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) fueled by propane, a very high energy density hydrocarbon fuel.  DARPA researchers have also developed the Stalker XE, a small UAS powered by this fuel cell to provide extended mission endurance for more than eight hours with the reliability and ruggedness required to perform real-world missions.  The Stalker XE has demonstrated an improvement of more than four times the endurance of existing state-of-the-art small unmanned aircraft systems.

The fuel cell was the basis for the hybrid power source on the Stalker XE, in which the high energy density fuel cell system was combined with a conventional lithium polymer battery to handle peak power requirements.  Its high energy density hydrocarbon fuel to handle energy storage rather than a relatively low energy density battery.

The Stalker XE enables persistent surveillance operations for small units.  As a 22-pound bungee-launched system, it operates without the large footprint and high cost of current tactical UAS platforms.

The enabling technology is the compact SOFC developed by DARPA for portable power applications, but the notable achievement of the Stalker XE demonstration is ruggedization of the advanced SOFC power source and integration into a fieldable platform.  Stalker XE was subjected to rigorous flight-testing, where it was required to perform back-to-back flights on a single airframe and single fuel cell with turnaround times of less than 30 minutes.  During these tests, the aircraft encountered wind gusts of 46 mph and sustained winds as high as 28 mph.  The system also performed at altitudes of greater than 15,000 feet.

The TAP portfolio program develops advanced portable power and energy in program efforts ranging from fundamental materials and chemistry to systems engineering of mature portable power systems.  The fuel cell power source in the Stalker XE was developed and matured under DARPA’s Palm Power and Robust Portable Power Sources programs.  Under the TAP program, the fuel cell system was ruggedized for integration into a fieldable small UAS.

“Stalker XE is a great example of how TAP may help reduce logistical burdens, enhance mission capability and fundamentally change how the U.S. military uses power and energy,” said Holloway.

People have so far created many water purifying devices and we always presented them here on The Green Optimistic. Now, Yanbiao Liu and his colleagues from Shanghai Jiao Tong University have created the photo-catalytic fuel cell, a new device capable of both cleaning wastewater and producing electricity from it.

GRENOBLE, France — McPhy Energy, a leader in solid hydrogen storage technology, has announced that Nottingham University has chosen the company’s solution for mid-term storage of renewable energy in a residential micro-grid under its “Creative Energy Homes” (CEH) project. The ongoing CEH project aims to stimulate sustainable design ideas and promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable housing that are innovative in their design. McPhy Energy has a safe, innovative and environmentally friendly solution for storing energy as solid hydrogen. The McPhy solution will be used for storage of surplus solar and wind energy under a new phase of the CEH project, which targets greater energy-autonomy for the homes via a dedicated micro-grid.

Nottingham University’s Creative Energy Homes represent a unique research facility. The homes built under the program incorporate a range of low carbon technologies including renewable micro generation from solar, wind and ground source heat pumps. The houses have operated individually using only the renewable energy generated at that property. However, a practical, multi-home storage solution for surplus energy is needed to cover peak periods, especially after sundown and during periods of little or no wind.

To respond to this challenge, this new phase of the CEH project is building a microgrid that will provide an energy management system across several houses. The project will investigate the optimum performance for storing surplus energy as solid hydrogen in McPhy Energy’s MCP-N-4, a magnesium hydride (MgH2)-based storage tank, within the microgrid. The hydrogen will then be used to feed the fuel cells on an as-needed basis.

“Having a combination of energy stores will provide a more robust system, with McPhy Energy’s solid hydrogen tanks used primarily for mid-term energy storage, and using batteries for short term energy requirements,” explains Gavin Walker, Professor of Sustainable Energy at the University of Nottingham. “Determining the best way of using both hydrogen and fuel cells within a microgrid is an important question that still needs to be addressed.”

“McPhy Energy is very pleased that our solid hydrogen storage systems have been chosen for this innovative project,” says Pascal Mauberger, CEO of McPhy Energy. “This marks our first foray into the dynamic UK renewable energy market. While we are involved in many industrial-scale projects, we believe Nottingham University’s Creative Energy Homes is the first in the world to investigate the use of solid hydrogen as a mid-term solution for energy autonomy on a residential micro-grid scale.”

While hydrogen has long been considered an excellent energy source, it has traditionally required high-pressure storage, which presents security concerns. Storing hydrogen in its solid state using environmentally friendly, low-cost, readily available and fully-recyclable magnesium hydrides involves a unique technology implemented by McPhy Energy. McPhy’s solid hydrogen storage tanks are safe, energy neutral, cheap, easily transportable and quickly chargeable and dischargeable. No other current means of hydrogen storage can list all of these advantages, making it a particularly attractive solution for renewable energy.

About McPhy Energy

McPhy Energy was created in 2008, with the mission to industrialize and commercialize an innovative solid hydrogen storage technology using magnesium hydrides, which offers unique advantages compared to other hydrogen storage solutions. The technology addresses the merchant hydrogen and renewable energy markets. McPhy owns exclusive rights on a portfolio of unique patents, which results from over 8 years of research at the CNRS and CEA, in partnership with Joseph Fourier University. A member of the TENERRDIS cluster, McPhy Energy is involved as a partner or a subcontractor in several research projects. For further information, see http://www.mcphy.com

Tucson FCEV driving coast to coast to demonstrate Hyundai environmental leadership and commitment to the most advanced green-friendly automotive technology

SAN FRANCISCO, – To demonstrate the environmental advantages and performance of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) while benefitting kids with cancer, Hyundai Motor America has launched the Hyundai Drive 4 Hope.  As the official car of Hope on Wheels, Hyundai’s major pediatric cancer program, a Hyundai Tucson FCEV will travel more than 4,500 miles coast to coast for kids with cancer.  During September National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Hyundai Hope on Wheels will award a total of $7.1 million to children’s hospitals nationwide.

During its national tour, the Hyundai Tucson FCEV will stop at hospitals across the country, collecting colorful handprints from childhood cancer patients and survivors along the way. By the end of September, the vehicle will have collected hundreds of handprints from children around the country, each representing a personal story about a child’s battle with this deadly disease.

After its kickoff with a handprint ceremony at University of California San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital on September 1st – the first of 71 hospitals to receive $100,000 Hope Grants – the Hyundai Tucson FCEV will travel over 4,500 miles through more than 15 states in under 30 days.

“Hyundai is committed to bold and innovative change to make the world a better place,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “Through Hope on Wheels, we are making great strides in the treatment of childhood cancer and through our leadership in fuel cell technology, we are making bold strides for a cleaner planet.”

As part of the company’s fuel efficiency strategy, which includes more cars and trucks that achieve over 40 miles per gallon than any other automotive manufacturer, the Hyundai Drive 4 Hope Tour will showcase the efficiency and advantages of Hyundai’s next-generation fuel cell electric vehicle technology. The Hyundai Tucson FCEV utilizes fuel cell power from compressed hydrogen, an energy source that is not only renewable but far less volatile than gasoline. The Tucson FCEV’s performance is comparable to that of a gasoline-powered vehicle.

Fuel cell electric vehicle technology also presents the potential for a more practical long-term alternative fuel driving solution without limitations. Unlike plug-in electric vehicles that are limited by range and recharging times, fuel cell-powered electric vehicles can go up to 400 miles between refueling – more than three times the range of a plug-in electric vehicle – and never need to be recharged.

Hyundai’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Zafar Brooks, is teaming up with Hyundai Drive 4 Hope Field Leader, Joe Foster to complete this epic journey, which they will be chronicling on www.HyundaiDrive4Hope.com.  Zafar and Joe will be blogging in real time and uploading photos and videos of their cross-country voyage, sharing event highlights and stories of people they meet along the way.

“Fuel cell technology is one of the lowest carbon footprint power solutions in the automotive industry and it has the potential to be a zero carbon solution,” said Michael O’Brien, vice president of product and corporate planning of Hyundai Motor America. “Several manufacturers are actively exploring fuel cell technology, but Hyundai is making it a reality with the ability to begin factory production of fuel cell cars and trucks in the next several years.”

For more information about Hyundai’s leadership in fuel efficiency and Fuel cell electric vehicle technology, please visit http://csr.hyundai.com/eng/environment/product/sub_hydrogen.aspx. For more information about Hyundai Hope on Wheels, this year’s Hope Grant recipients, and how you can get involved, please visit www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org/.

HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS

Hyundai Hope on Wheels® is the united effort of Hyundai Motor America and its more than 800 dealers across the U.S. to raise awareness about childhood cancer and to celebrate the lives of children battling the disease.  In 2011, Hope on Wheels will have committed more than $43 million in donations to pediatric cancer research since the program began in 1998.  Hyundai Hope on Wheels is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–Optomec today announced a new $500,000 contract extension from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to enhance its Aerosol Jet system to enable the production of graded fuel cell structures in a single manufacturing step, versus current multiple step approaches. The system will be used by AFRL to develop and prototype high efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on the Aerosol Jet technology’s unique material mixing capabilities. These advances will improve the electrical and mechanical performance of fuel cells, increase the material utilization rates, and substantially lower manufacturing and equipment costs.

Optomec’s Aerosol Jet solution is a fundamental building block for a range of fine feature printed electronics, including applications in solar cell manufacturing and advanced semiconductor packaging. Working together with AFRL, Optomec has extended Aerosol Jet capabilities to enable the printing of high performance fuel cells.

Commercialization of SOFC technology has been limited in part by the lack of processing methods suited for mass production. Commonly used approaches such as tape casting; screen printing; spray; and spin and dip coating have limitations due to the inability for easy scale-up and difficulties in obtaining layer uniformity and reproducible microstructures. Alternative techniques based on physical vapor deposition involve high equipment and operating costs. Aerosol Jet systems provide a compelling alternative to these legacy methods, based on the systems’ ability to cost-effectively print fuel cell components with exceptional uniformity, reproducibility and a greater utilization of active materials. Aerosol Jet systems also serve as an ideal development and prototyping tool due to their ability to readily and reproducibly alter cell architectures and material compositions.

Most notably, the Aerosol Jet solution has a unique ability to create graded interfaces between the fuel cell’s primary component layers: the anode, electrolyte and cathode. These graded “inter-layers” simultaneously increase cell performance by enlarging the reaction zone and improve mechanical stability by alleviating the mismatches in thermal expansion. Using this capability, AFRL has demonstrated the ability to increase SOFC power densities by more than 30%. Under this contract extension, Optomec will further enhance the Aerosol Jet hardware to enable seamless, high throughput production of these unique high performance graded fuel cells.

The AFRL system and its enhancements will remain housed at the Propulsion Directorate Energy/Power/Thermal Division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. The system will continue to be primarily used to develop deposition processes for SOFCs.

Dr. Ryan Miller of the Thermal and Electrochemical branch states, “Optomec and AFRL continue to have a productive partnership, through the development of further enhancements to the Aerosol Jet system. It brings a unique capability to our lab in the area of thick film material deposition with a wide range of applications, in addition to solid oxide fuel cells.”

Optomec is the world-leading provider of additive manufacturing solutions for high-performance applications in the Electronics, Solar, Medical, and Aerospace & Defense markets. These systems utilize Optomec’s patented Aerosol Jet Printed Electronics technology and LENS powder-metal fabrication technology. The company has a global customer base of more than 100 users that includes many industry-leading manufacturers.

LENS is a registered trademark of Sandia Corporation.

Aerosol Jet is a registered trademark of Optomec, Inc.