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Fuel Cell News
August 9, 2005
SOFCo-EFS Successfully Completes 500-hour Fuel Cell
Demonstration with Diesel Fuel
Source: SOFCo-EFS
ALLIANCE, Ohio - SOFCo-EFS Holdings LLC has successfully completed a 500-hour
demonstration of a 10 kilowatt diesel fuel processor operating with its
solid oxide fuel cell. The test proved the technical feasibility of using
commercially available 2007 Certified Diesel Fuel to produce electricity
with a fuel cell. The demonstration was the culmination of a 24-month
effort funded by the State of Ohio’s Third Frontier program to develop
and operate a compact diesel fuel processor with a sulfur-tolerant solid
oxide fuel cell.
Fuel cells, a promising power generation technology are energy efficient,
produce very low emissions and have near silent operation. With further
development, solid oxide fuel cells could potentially be used in a broad
range of applications, including those requiring the use of diesel fuel
such as remote or “off-grid” stationary power and auxiliary
power for long haul trucks and marine applications.
This achievement is a significant milestone in SOFCo-EFS’s product
development efforts to supply distillate-fueled solid oxide fuel cells
for various mobile and stationary power applications to both commercial
and military markets. The demonstration highlighted the company’s
compact diesel reforming technology as well as its sulfur-tolerant solid
oxide fuel cell.
The demonstration process
In the SOFCo-EFS fuel processor, the diesel fuel was efficiently converted
into a hydrogen-rich mixture of gases using a catalytic partial oxidation
reformer. The hydrogen-rich mixture was then fed directly to the solid
oxide fuel cell for over 500 hours. Through electrochemical reactions
the fuel cell converts the chemical energy of the fuel into electricity.
A significant finding from the demonstration was the stable operation
of the diesel fuel processor and the fuel cell. Throughout the test there
was no evidence of carbon formation in either the fuel reformer or the
fuel cell. Carbon formation is a problem that often results from incomplete
reforming of the hydrocarbon fuel and can quickly block the flow passages
in the system.
The electrical power produced by the fuel cell over the 500 hour demonstration
was as expected, based on earlier tests with natural gas and hydrogen.
This indicates the sulfur-bearing diesel fuel had no deleterious effects
on the performance of the SOFCo-EFS fuel processor or fuel cell and confirmed
earlier test results. Sulfur tolerance is significant as it allows expensive
fuel desulfurization equipment to be eliminated from the system, and greatly
simplifies system design.
About SOFCo-EFS
SOFCo-EFS Holdings LLC is headquartered in Alliance, Ohio and managed
by BWX Technologies, Inc (BWXT). Both SOFCo-EFS and BWXT are owned by
McDermott International. SOFCo-EFS develops planar solid oxide fuel cell
components for stationary and mobile power systems, as well as gaseous
and liquid fuel processors that support a broad range of fuel cell applications.
SOFCo-EFS has established a patented solid oxide fuel cell design that
provides for superior performance and reliability at competitive costs.
The patented approach combines state-of-the-art ceramic materials with
the manufacturing technology for multi-layer ceramic packages currently
used by the microelectronics industry. The versatile fuel processing technology
is being integrated into solid oxide fuel cell systems being developed
by SOFCo-EFS as well as other industry stakeholders.
For more information:
BWX Technologies, Inc. Public Relations
Regina W. Carter 434.522.5158
Visit www.sofco-efs.com
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