Hydrogen - Gazette

IInd Quarter 1998 – 2nd Year, ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH

DCH to commercialize Circular PEM Fuel Cell (98-06-22)

Plug Power unveils fuel cell-powered home (98-06-22)

Ballard: stationary power platns in Japan and Europe (98-06-22)

NHA publishes Hydrogen Commercialization Plan (98-06-22)

Norsk Hydro presents new small electrolyzer at Hanover Fair (98-05-29)

Two new PEM electrolyzers presented at NHA meeting (98-05-29)

New electrolysis membrane developed in Japan (98-05-29)

GL&V presents new small alkaline electrolyser (98-05-29)

Stuart Energy Systems develops small hydrogen refueling system (98-05-29)

Norsk Hydro develops new concept for hydrogen based electricity generation (98-05-21)

French and Swedish Hydrogen Association founded (98-05-21)

"Energy Strategy for Transportation" started in Germany (98-05-13)

First commercial sale of portable fuel cell systems from H Power (98-04-30)

Westinghouse starts 100 kW SOFC demonstration unit (98-04-30)

Visit hydrogen and fuel cells on the Hannover Trade Fair! (98-04-09)

Biomass gasification projects in Northern Bavaria assumes shape (98-04-09)

Balloon accident: hydrogen innocent (98-04-09)

Arthur D. Little forms Epyx for commercializing POX reformers (98-04-09)

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DCH to commercialize Circular PEM Fuel Cell

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-06-22: DCH Technology Inc. of Sherman Oaks, California, USA, a technology and manufacturing firm specializing in hydrogen and other gas sensors, announced on May 21st that it was signing a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Los Alamos National Laboratory to commercialize a patented Circular Fuel Cell Stack. DCH's fuel cell systemutilizing the circular stacks and incorporating DCH's sensing and control technologies can deliver a peak power of 50 to 500 watts of electric power.

The National Laboratory will be performing optimization analysis and testing in support of DCH's commercialization. The production configuration of the modular fuel cell system will be demonstrated at the National Hydrogen Association's 10th Annual Meeting in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, next year.

On May 26th, DCH announced an exclusive marketing agreement with Community Power Corp. whereby Community Power will purchase, install, operate and maintain the DCH fuel cell systems for its off-grid residential, commercial and industrial customers in Brazil, Philippines and Indonesia.

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Plug Power unveils fuel cell-powered home

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-06-22: On June 17th, 1998, Plug Power L.L.C. of Latham, New York /USA (HyWeb, 98-10-22), unveiled a hydrogen based fuel cell system supplying all the power to a suburban house. Commercial systems that will run on natural gas, propane or methanol will be available by the year 2000 according to Plug Power expectations.

The development of the fuel cell system has been supported by the Department of Energy and by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Sales targets of Plug Power are aggressive, planning to be the first company to make and sell one million of the systems. DTE Energy Co., joint owner of Plug Power, is providing distribution expertise to the company while Mechanical Technology Inc., the other partner in the joint venture, is an early fuel cell developer. The company is also working closely with W.L. Gore & Associates, developer of fuel cell menbranes.

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Ballard: stationary power platns in Japan and Europe

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-06-22: On May 29th, Ballard Power Systems of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada announced that ist subsidiary Ballard Generation Systems has completed ist C$110 million (US$ 76.25 million) agreement with GEC Alsthom, headquartered in France, to bring manufacturing and marketing expertise into the company for PEM fuel cell stationary power plants.

In the transaction, GEC Alsthom will invest US$39 million (US$21 million in cash and US$18 million in manufactoring technology and expertise) for a 21.4% interest in Ballard Generation Systems; GPU International is the third partner in this joint venture. Ballard Generation Systems will establish an initial production facility in Canada to manufacture 250 kW fuel cell stationary power plants. In addition, Ballard Generation Systems and GEC Alsthom will jointly invert US$37.25 million to form a European joint venture company called Alsthom BGS for the sale and subsequently the manufacture of fuel cell power plants in Europe.

On June 1st, Ballard Power Systems announced that Ballard Generation Systems has received a C$11.6 million (US$8 million) order from GEC Alsthom for four 250 kW class natural gas fuel cell power plants, including training and support. These power plants will be part of a series of field trial units manufactured by Ballard Generation Systems and delivered during 1999 and 2000. Ballard Power Systems will supply the fuel cells for all power plants.

On May 20th, Ballard Power Systems announced that Ballard Generation Systems has signed a detailed memorandum of understanding with EBARA Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, to create a joint venture company with exclusive rights to market, and later to manufacture, Ballard’s PEM fuel cell power plants for the Japanese market.

In the proposed transaction, which is subject to the completion of formal documentation and regulatory approvals, EBARA will invest US$15 million in cash for a 5.2% interest in Ballard Generation Systems and two 250 kW Ballard Fuel Cell power plants for field testing in Japan. In addition, Ballard Generation Systems and EBARA will jointly invest US$16 million to form a new company in Japan to sell, distribute, and later manufacture PEM fuel cell power plants. The initial investment in this Japanese company consists of US$8.16 million from EBARA for a 51% interest, and US$7.84 million from Ballard Generation Systems for a 49% interest.

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NHA publishes Hydrogen Commercialization Plan

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-06-22: The National Hydrogen Association has now published its Hydrogen Commercialization Plan (HyWeb, 97-07-23) available at www.ttcorp.com/nha/commpln1.htm. The plan sets out an ambitious but realistic strategy for the commercialization of hydrogen technologies in North America.

MA

 

 

 

 

 

Norsk Hydro presents new small electrolyzer at Hanover Fair

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-29: Norsk Hydro Electrolysers AS of Notodden, Norway, presented its new line of small alkaline electrolyzers ranging from 10 to 60 Nm3/h of hydrogen production at the joint presentation of hydrogen technologies with fuel cell applications at the Hanover Fair (HyWeb, 98-04-09) in April. With a power consumption of 4.8 kWhe/Nm3 this corresponds to electric input powers of 48 to 288 kWe. The hydrogen is delivered at a pressure of 16 bar (a), higher pressure levels up to 31 bar (a) being possible on request for smaller models. The gases are produced at purity levels of 99.8% for hydrogen and 99.2% for oxygen at production rates of 50% to 100% of rated power.

The first 10 Nm3/h unit will be produced in France by June 1998 by a Norsk Hydro Electrolysers subsidiary. Later-on, the electrolysers will also be produced in India and Malaysia where Norsk Hydro Electrolysers has joint ventures.

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Two new PEM electrolyzers presented at NHA meeting

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-29: Proton Energy Systems Inc. of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA and Shinko Pantec Co, Ltd. of Kobe, Japan, presented their new PEM electrolyzers (PEM - proton exchange membrane, also called SPE - solid polymer electrolyte) at the National Hydrogen Association's annual meeting in Vienna, Virginia, USA, this March.

The Proton HOGEN electrolyzers are 8 to 260 Nm3/h systems delivering hydrogen at a pressure of 28 bar; future upgrades to 140 have been announced. Proton is presently developing reversible PEM electrolysis / fuel cell systems and develops remote village utility systems under a US-Department of Energy contract (HyWeb, 98-02-24).

Shinko Pantec, which has a subsidiary in Tiburon, California, USA, offers PEM electrolyzers in the range of 0.1 to 40 Nm3/h at pressures of 1 to 31 bar; they are operable in the range of 0 to 100% rated power. According to the April edition of H&FCL, Shinko Pantec has already sold two of thier systems in Japan and one in Turkey.

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New electrolysis membrane developed in Japan

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-29: According to a short note in Calstart (www.calstart.org) on May 19th, Kanai Electric Power Co. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., have developed a new membrane that, according to the note, significantly increases the production of hydrogen in the electrolysis process. A prototype system with eight membranes of 50 cm² each is reported to be able to operate for 4,000 hours without performance declines.

MA

 

 

 

GL&V presents new small alkaline electrolyser

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-21: On the National Hydrogen Association's annual meeting, also GL&V presented their new small alkaline electrolyser (HyWeb, 97-11-20). IMET-10, which has been developed by Hydrogen Systems N.V. of Belgium, produces 10 Nm³/h of hydrogen at a pressure of 3 to 7 bar and a purity of 99.95%. Electricity consumption is 3.9 kWh per Nm³ of hydrogen for the stack itself at nominal production. Together with auxiliary systems (fans etc.), an installed capacity of 60 kWe is necessary.

Currently, the first two North American built units are being assembled. The necessary approvals are planned to be obtained by the end of June 1998 and deliveries are planned to start in September.

MA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuart Energy Systems develops small hydrogen refueling system

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-29: Stuart Energy Systems of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is developing a new hydrogen electrolyzer for hydrogen refueling that is substatially smaller than any other product now on the market. As Matthew Fairlie, vice president of Stuart Energy Systems, pointed out at the 9th National Hydrogen Association's Annual Meeting, the company has committed to reducing the size and the weight of electrolyzers by an order of magnitude. The company is already building a prototype of the Compact Stuart Technology (CST) "personal fuel appliance", which will provide high-pressure 5000 psi (345 bar) hydrogen, according to a March 7th Calstart news story (www.calstart.org/news/newsnotes/).

In May 1997, Andrew Stuart, president of Stuart Energy Systems, revealed more details of the development goals, according to the June 1997 edition of H&FCL: a 40x30x40 inches appliance shall refuel a family car over 8 to 12 hours at night. Such a system could cost around US$1,500 if manufactured at 1 million units, while at lower production volumes of around 10,000 units, the price goal is about US$5,000. According to Stuart, this represents a reduction to one tenth of the present size and weight and, at high production volumes, to one tenth of the present capital costs.

MA

 

 

 

 

Norsk Hydro develops new concept for hydrogen based electricity generation

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-21: In a press release dated April 23rd, Norsk Hydro of Norway announced that it is developing a new concept for generating electricity from natural gas derived hydrogen in gas turbines and for injecting the separated CO2 into oil fields in order to enhance oil recovery. The concept essentially consists of natural gas steam reforming which produces hydrogen to be fed to gas turbines generating electricity. Norsk Hydro is in the process of patenting a new reforming technology which has an increased efficiency by recirculating part of the produced hydrogen. The carbon dioxide produced in the steam reforming is separated and injected into oil fields thus increasing oil recovery. The press release speaks of deciding upon construction of one or two first plants within one year. An article in the Norwegian "Teknisk Ukeblad" dated May 7th on the other hand rather indicates that the project is still in an earlier stage of concept assessment. It is not yet clear, according to the article, whether the concept is technically or economically feasible. CO2 sequestration credits will enhance economics. The necessary hydrogen operated gas turbines are not available on the world market; they would have to be developed for this application. In case the process proves feasible, a first plant could be operable by 2002-2003, according to Norsk Hydro.

The May edition of the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter elaborates in detail on the plans of Norsk Hydro.

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French and Swedish Hydrogen Association founded

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-21: On April 30th, the French Hydrogen Association - Association Française de l'Hydrogène (AFH), has been founded in Paris (HyWeb, 97-07-22). According to a press release of the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) dated May 7th, members of AFH are the gas supplier Air Liquide, the french subsidiaries of Air Products and Linde, the Aerospace company SEP and others. Furthermore, the environmental research institute INERIS, the standardization organization AFNOR, the consultants ALPHEA and the national nuclear energy research institution CEA are members. Mr. Thierry Alleau (CEA) was elected president of AFH.

Also in Sweden a hydrogen association has been founded: Svenska Vätgasföreningen - Swedish Hydrogen Association. The first meeting has taken place in Stockholm on the 26th of March. The Internet home page can be found under www.kretsloop.se/sha

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"Energy Strategy for Transportation" started in Germany

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-05-13: On Monday, the initiative "Energy Strategy for Transportation" has been presented to the public in a joint press conference of the German federal Ministry of Transportation and the involved industry in Bonn (HyWeb, 98-03-02). The automotive companies BMW, Daimler-Benz, MAN and VW as well as the mineral oil and utility companies Aral, RWE and Shell have grouped together in this initiative. The federal government has promised support and close collaboration.

The objectives of the activity are:

In a joint effort, possible alternatives shall be economically, technologically and ecologically assessed leading to the identification of one or at most two sustainable energy carriers. In a second step, a strategy for the market introduction of this technology shall be taken already until autumn 1999.

Various industry representatives argued that the rather poor success in introducing alternative fuels such as natural gas was due to the uncoordinated efforts of industry and politics and underlined the importance of the joint activity "Energy Strategy for Transportation".

Some excerpts of the statements of the industry representatives underline the points of view of the respective companies:

"For the future of mobility, big challenges show up which cannot be solved by simply making the present system more efficient; instead, new and forward-looking solutions are necessary." Marcus Breitschwerdt, head of transport, environmental and economic strategy at Daimler-Benz. The Daimler-Benz press release carries on: In view of the finiteness of fossil fuels, alternatives have to be found, that have the potential to meet the future energy requirements and that prevent a growing dependency on the OPEC countries. ... From Daimler-Benz' point of view, alternative fuels should be able to power internal combustion engines as well as new energy transformers such as fuel cells.

"Already in 1994, BMW has presented a possible strategy for the use of alternative fuels: from natural gas to hydrogen. [...] We know for sure that in future we will drive one or two of the following alternative propulsion concepts:

"Against the background of limited ressources of oil, especially from european production, alternatives have to be prepared early and in consensus of all parties. We see that now the time has come to answer the question of the energy carriers of the future together with the federal government in an activity initiated by industry." Dr. Klaus Schubert, Chairman of the executive board of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG.

"For its good handling qualities and for its high energy density, mineral oil has with good reason become the dominant energy source for transportation. [...] So far, we do not know any other fuel that is superior to mineral oil as far as the criteria handling and energy density are concerned." Dr. Dieter Dräger, executive board member of RWE AG. The RWE press release carries on: At the same time, Dr. Dräger underlined that this fact does not reduce the efforts to make the use of mineral oil more efficient, to improve internal combustion engines or to steadily reduce tail pipe emissions. On the other hand the task is, according to the Dr. Dräger, to assess the potentials of basic innovations in the area of energy systems - this could possibly be fuel cells - and secure the provision of energy accordingly.

"For us, the permanent question is, which alternatives to today's car/ fuel systems have to be offered and when." Dr. Schlörb, executive board member of Aral AG.

We feel "... not only asked but 100% motivated to collaborate in new, alternative propulsion systems. We don't see this as a threat, but as a challenge and opportunity - just like our other efforts in the sector of renewable energies, one example of which is the erection of the world's largest solar cells manufacturing facility in Gelsenkirchen [Germany]. [...] Environmentally benign hydrogen - seen by many as the energy form of the future - will then play an important role in the energy and fuel supply, if we make an effort in this direction. The Hanover Fair has just now shown that very clearly, in how far this is already the case in Germany and internationally. [...] Ladies and Gentlemen, no matter which fuel will play a role in the future and will substitute or supplement the traditional fuels, we want to and we will be the supplier of it." Rainer Laufs, chairman of the board of directors of Deutsche Shell AG.

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First commercial sale of portable fuel cell systems from H Power

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-30: In a one year, US$ 749,000 contract with the New Jersey Department of Transportation, H Power Corp. of Belleville, New Jersey will retrofit 65 solar-powered variable message road signs with fuel cells. The fuel cell functions as an auxiliary system powering the road sign in case of darkness and low battery voltage. H Power, which calls this the first commercial sale of fuel cell systems, expects a large follow-on market.

The 50 Watt nominal systems can be powered by 2000 psi compressed gaseous hydrogen or by hydrogen produced in an ammonia dissociator, according to an H&FCL article in the April edition.

Two 9'' diameter x 58'' compressed hydrogen bottles provide 14 kWh (net) of energy equivalent to about 12 days of full operation; a 16'' diameter x 58'' refillable flask of ammonia (a 14 lbs. ammonia dissociator is a required extra) provides 150 kWh (net) equivalent to 125 days of full operation.

In normal operation, the hydrogen cylinders have to be exchanged every six to eight weeks only, saving maintenance costs for battery recharging.

The New Jersey road signs are powered by ammonia.

H Power offers small – from 30 W to 1 kW – fuel cells for portable applications such as a portable power briefcase for laptop computers or as recharger of other batteries, for professional video cameras, a hybrid fuel cell battery power source for wheelchairs and military electronic equipment. High power applications – from 1 kW to 250 kW – H Power presently develops and presents as prototypes include buses and power supply for residences and businesses.

In February, H Power announced winning a patent on a new fuel cell stack design reducing the stack size by 30% to 50%.

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Westinghouse starts 100 kW SOFC demonstration unit

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-30: In February, the world's largest Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) has been put into operation by the Dutch utility NUON in Duiven/ Westervoort; the cogeneration system will provide 100 kW of ac electric power into the utility grid and 80 kW of thermal power into the lokal hot water district heating system.

The SOFC electrical generating system was designed and built by the Westinghouse Science and Technology Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, where Westinghouse developed its tubular SOFC technology with substantial support from the US Department of Energy. The system's power conditioning unit, converting the cells direct-current output into alternating-current was developed by Gutor of Switzerland.

The system consists of an atmospheric pressure SOFC stack with 1,152 state-of-the-art, air-electrode-supported tubular cells and runs on pipeline natural gas. The electric efficiency is expected to approach 47%; the total fuel effectiveness should be nearly 75%. Measured nitrous oxide emissions are below 0.2 ppm by volume with no detectable carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides or unburned hydrocarbons (calculated from 100 kW unit data).

Next year, Westinghouse will demonstrate a pressurized stack coupled to a gas turbine at Southern California Edison. In this dry – no steam – SOFC / gas turbine system, the SOFC supplants the normal gas turbine combustor. The electrical generating efficiency of such hybrid cycles is projected to reach 70% at modest plant capacity levels as low as a few megawatts.

Westinghouse expects SOFC systems based on its technology will be offered commercially in 2001 or 2002 for applications limited initially to a range of from a few hundred kW up to 10 MW and directed towards the distributed power generation market rather than large central power stations.

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Visit hydrogen and fuel cells on the Hannover Trade Fair!

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-09: Once again, the joint presentation of "Hydrogen technologies with fuel cell applications" is present on this year's Hannover Trade Fair, the world-wide largest industrial fair. You can find the joint presentation in hall 18, 1st floor, booth J04 from April 20th until 25th.

Exhibits:

In hall 13, booth C43, a world's first: a miniaturized fuel cell supplying a notebook computer, presented by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, Freiburg, Germany, in cooperation with industry partners (Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG, GfE Metalle und Materialien).

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Biomass gasification project in Northern Bavaria assumes shape

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-09: A project including the gasification of biomass and use of the produced hydrogen rich gas in fuel cells for the generation of electricity that has already been announced for quite some time (see also Hydrogen-Gazette, 97-04-02 "Bad Brückenau") has now finally been launched.

The details are:

Location: Oberwildflecken in the northernmost part of Bavaria
Realization: prototype until 1999, optimization until 2000
Biomass reactor: allothermic gasification process with a thermal power rating of 2.5 MWth

input of 500 kg of biomass (wood or green matter) and 100 l of water per hour

annual biomass consumption between 2,000 and 3,000 t

per 1 t of biomass, 18 kg of ash and 2 kg of solid residues are produced

net efficiency of gasification process is between 50% and 60%
Gas treatment: pressure swing absorption
Hydrogen consumers: fuel cell cogeneration plants (still to be defined if PAFC or MCFC)

hydrogen gas motor

total output of FC plant and gas motor plant: 600 kWe and 800 kWth
Investment: 12 million DM (US$ 7 million), 50% funding by Bavarian State Government

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Balloon accident: hydrogen innocent

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-09: The investigations of a balloon accident causing four deaths in Northern Germany on October 18th, 1997 are reaching final conclusions. Luftfahrtbundesamt (LBA), the German federal air travel administration in Braunschweig has found out that the strong electromagnetic fields emitted by a radio station in a distance of 100 m caused the accident. The hydrogen filling of the balloon was not the reason for the catastrophy.

According to a press release by the German Hydrogen Association dated March 13th, the investigations revealed that the strong electromagnetic fields emitted by four radio stations of 500 kW each caused the balloon to be separated from the net attaching the basket to the balloon. Net and basket dropped 200 m leaving no chance of survival to the crew. The balloon envelope cought fire and drifted upwards, the remaining gas finally exploding. LBA underlined that the hydrogen gas filling was not hte cause of the accident.

As already reported in the April 1997 edition of the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, the famous Hindenburg accident in Lakehurst back in 1937 wasn't caused by the hydrogen filling of the airship either. The fire was essentially caused by the highly flammable envelope coating most likely lit by static electric discharges in the air, Addison Bain, a former NASA member, found out and reported at the National Hydrogen Association's last year annual meeting.

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Arthur D. Little forms Epyx for commercializing POX reformers

Hydrogen-Gazette, 98-04-09: On February 25th, Epyx Corporation, a spinn-off of the consulting firm Arthur D. Little, formally announced its formation and intention to focus solely on expediting the commercialization of a multi-fuel processor. The Epyx processor shall transform gasoline and ethanol into hydrogen rich gases for use in fuel cell electric vehicles (Hydrogen-Gazette, 97-10-22). Epyx will manufacure and distribute the systems for applications in the automotive, energy and utilities industries worldwide, with initial sales of smallscale portable power units scheduled for the year 2000.

MA