D. Application-Specific Technologies
1. Auxiliary / Portable Power Units
Description: 1-30kW systems operating at about 800°C
Goals: Cost, Specific power, Power density, Durability, Simplified fuel processing
a) Components
i. Fluid handling
ii. Microcompressors
b) Manufacturing processes
c) Portable fuel processors
i. Diesel reforming
d) Fuel storage, distribution, and recharging
e) Cartridge-based systems
Description: Self-hydrating, modular PEMFC smart cartridges could increase reliability and reduce cost of small (2kW), distributed fuel cells.
f) SOFC distributed power modules Description: 70% efficiency, 1kW and larger
g) SOFC auxiliary power units for heavy-duty trucks
2. Stationary Applications and Distributed Power Generation
Description: Size ranges from watts to megawatts.
Goals: Acceptable price point is $400-$750/kW for widespread commercialization. Durability
requirement is 40,000 hours in temperature range -35 to 40 deg.C (several thousand hours of
reliable operation has been demonstrated so far).
a) Combined heat and power with SOFCs
Description: Use the waste heat from high-temperature fuel cell for cogeneration or for a bottoming cycle.
Evaluate the performance of stationary SOFCs as a steady load for integrated hydrogen production while
providing a high-quality heat and power source.
Goal: Efficiency > 80%
i. More efficient heat recovery systems
ii. Improved system design
b) Combined heat and power with PEMFCs
Description: The low operating temperature of PEMFCs limits the use of waste heat generated by the fuel cell. Goal: Efficiency > 80%
i. More efficient heat recovery systems
ii. Improved system design iii. Higher operating temperature
c) Integrated cooling systems
Description: Regenerating dessicants in a dessicant cooling cycle.
d) Power electronics and energy management
Goal: Cost, Efficiency, Load transient response time < 3 msec
i. Universal DC bus
ii. High-frequency power conditioner
iii. Integrated transfer switch and inverter
iv. Grid-independent electronics
e) Fast startup systems
Description: Many backup power applications require a faster startup than is currently available (at least 30 seconds) in today’s fuel-cell systems.
i. Hybrid systems (with energy storage)
ii. Other approaches
f) Components
Goal: Increase durability to 40,000 hours.
i. Sulfur-tolerant catalysts
ii. Sulfur-tolerant membrane materials
iii. Analysis of failure mechanisms
iv. Benchmarking
g) Marine power generation
Description: Demonstration of the viability of a 400-kW fuel-cell system.
i. Test voltage regulation, frequency regulation, load response testing, and overload testing.
|
