Develop and test fuel-cell-powered on-site integrated total-energy systems: Phase III, full-scale power-plant development. Fourth quarterly report, November 1981-January 1982

Technical Report · Mon Jun 21 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:5084546

Major conclusions from the on-site system application analysis (Arthur D. Little, Inc.) are summarized. OS/IES internal rates of return (IRR) are relatively attractive when the fuel cell system is designed for the base-load, rather than for the average-load, and when operated on natural gas, rather than on methanol. For this grid-connected system, electric utility rate structures are more important in determining IRR than building loads and climate. High demand for hot water has been identified as an important consideration in matching the energy capabilities of the OS/IES to the site. Building types that will be analyzed extensively are hospitals, offices, apartments, and retail stores. Preparations have been completed for the first test of a full-sized single-cell (0.33 m x 0.56 m). Emphasis of the methanol fuel processor development program has shifted toward the use of commercial shell-and-tube heat exchangers. An improved method for predicting the carbon-monoxide tolerance of anode catalysts is described. This is a cyclic-voltametric test and correlates well with the results of much more time-consuming single-cell testing. Other stack support areas reported on include improved ABA bipolar plate bonding technology, improved electrical measurement techniques for specification-testing of stack components, and anodic corrosion behavior of carbon materials. The conclusion of endurance testing of the thermally stable and ethanol-resistant C70-2RS methanol-reforming catalyst is presented and results are compared to those obtained earlier on T2107RS catalyst.

• Research Organization: Engelhard Corp., Edison, NJ (USA). Engelhard Industries Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AI01-80ET17088
• OSTI ID: 5084546
• Report Number(s): DOE/NASA/0241-4; NASA-CR-167898; ON: DE82020724
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080104 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Water Gas Processes
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290800 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Heat Utilization-- (1980-)
30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300501* -- Fuel Cells-- Design & Development
300502 -- Fuel Cells-- Performance & Testing
ACID ELECTROLYTE FUEL CELLS
ALCOHOLS
APARTMENT BUILDINGS
BUILDINGS
CATALYTIC REFORMING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
CORROSION
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS
FUEL CELLS
GAS GENERATORS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HOSPITALS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS
HYDROGEN GENERATORS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MEDICAL CENTERS
METHANOL
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ON-SITE POWER GENERATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORIC ACID
POISONING
POWER GENERATION
POWER PLANTS
POWER RANGE 10-100 KW
REFORMER PROCESSES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SPACE HVAC SYSTEMS
TESTING
TOTAL ENERGY SYSTEMS