High temperature tubular solid oxide fuel cell development
Important to the development commercialization of any new technology is a field test program. This is a mutually beneficial program for both the developer and the prospective user. The developer is able to acquire valuable field operating experience that is not available in a laboratory while the user has the opportunity to become familiar with the new technology and gains a working knowledge of it through hands-on experience. Westinghouse, recognizing these benefits, initiated a program in 1986 by supplying a 400 W SOFC generator to Tennessee Valley Authority. This generator operated for approximately 1,760 hours and was constructed of twenty-four 30 cm thick-wall PST cells. In 1987, three, 3 kW SOFC generators were installed and operated at the facilities of the Tokyo Gas Company and the Osaka Gas Company. At Osaka Gas, two generators were used. First a training generator, operated for 2900 hours before it was replaced on a preplanned schedule with the second generator. The second generator operated for 3,600 hours. Tokyo Gas generator was operated for 4,900 hours. These generators had a 98% availability and measured NO{sub x} levels of less than 1.3 ppM. The 3 kW SOFC generators were constructed of 144 36 cm thick-wall PST cells. The 3 kW generators, as was the TVA generator, were fueled with hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The next major milestone in the field unit program was reached in early 1992 with the delivery to The UTILITIES, a consortium of the Kansai Electric Power company, the Tokyo Gas Company, and the Osaka Gas Company, of a natural gas fueled all electric SOFC system. This system is rated at a nominal 25 kW dc with a peak capacity of 40 kW dc. The NO{sub x} was measured at <0.3 ppM (corrected to 15% oxygen). The system consists of 1152 cells (thin-wall PST) of 50 cm active length, manufactured at the PPMF. Cells are contained in two independently controlled and operated generators. 2,300 hours of stable operation has been obtained on the first unit.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC21-91MC28055
- OSTI ID:
- 10179817
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC/28055-92/C0065; CONF-920748-20; ON: DE92040253
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 4. annual fuel cells contractors review meeting,Morgantown, WV (United States),14-15 Jul 1992; Other Information: PBD: [1992]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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