10 KW Fuel Cell Generator

My understanding was that sulfur caused problems with the reaction which limited the available fuels. Now they seem to have solved that issue. So no, the sulfur is not a requirement just and early nuisance.

If this is the same technology as another approach, it also works at room temperature instead of the high temps of other fuel cells.

I hope Onan is following along with the developments.

bluwtr49 wrote:
One of the things that impressed me about this project is that it's out of the lab and into the field for real testing. Now it becomes an engineering issue rather than academic.

In other readings I've done is that the sulfur issue, while isn't required for the performance, it was a significant obstacle to making the fuel cell viable. Once the sulfur issue was overcome the unit became more practical for field operations.

The leap from JP-8 to diesel may not be to difficult.

What is the sulfur issue? Is that it's required to make it work or are the trying to get the sulfur out? And I can't believe how bad I misspelled sulfur in my last post. :)

One of the things that impressed me about this project is that it's out of the lab and into the field for real testing. Now it becomes an engineering issue rather than academic.

In other readings I've done is that the sulfur issue, while isn't required for the performance, it was a significant obstacle to making the fuel cell viable. Once the sulfur issue was overcome the unit became more practical for field operations.

The leap from JP-8 to diesel may not be to difficult.

The trick to containing the cost would be a market where millions of them could be sold.

A generator that quiet could be a major boon for many, epically those with medical issues requiring they have 120vac all the time (or at night).

This technology shows promise if the cost can be contained.

One line in the article says it uses "high sulpher fuel" like JP-8. You can bet the enviro people will have issues with it if they try and make something similar for civilian use in the US. The military likely won't develop a diesel version as the military is in to a one fuel powers everything mode. I don't know if they even still use diesel fuel, but all new military vehicles (from jets to tanks to trucks to helicopters) have to be able to run on JP-8. It's actually a pretty good idea. One fuel truck can deliver fuel to anything on the battle field.

Some good reading material here in these links... Be sure to read all of the links shown here - If it goes like they claim will be a big savings in cost per watt running from natural gas and other fuels...

REDO POWER SYSTEMs

Another article from google along the same line...
HOME FUEL CELL

I know plugging two wires into a potato didn't work out very well???

Roy Ken

bluwtr49 wrote:
Interesting article regarding a 10 KW fuel cell generator for military use that is undergoing tests for the army/marines. Right now running on JP-8 but I can see it moving to diesel also.

Fuel Cell Generator

The fuel cell might be a great idea, and it should have fewer moving parts, yet is subject to contamination in early versions. I hope they have overcome these problems.

One problem with early versions is the time it takes to go from full load to light load and especially from light load to full load can take a few minutes. So turning on a 1.5 KW air conditioner might bring down the voltage, and taking that compressor offline can raise the voltage for a little while when the fuel cell is told to slow down energy production. I guess that is easy to take care of with a inverter and larger battery bank to absorb quick changes in load.

It might work fine with a bank of lights and radios to run, yet large variable loads such as a electric stove, air conditioner, and refrigerators might put a much more variable load on the fuel cell. While a traditional generator can change from 8 KW to 0 in seconds, and back to 8 or full 10 KW in seconds with little variability in frequency or voltage, because the engine can go full throttle to 0 in 1 second, and back to full just as quickly.

I would also be wondering about weight too! Is it more or less weight than a traditional diesel generator.


Good luck!

Fred.