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PEM fuel cells had for some time
been considered the leading fuel cell technology for domestic CHP
applications. It had also been suggested by some that the exploitation
of this technology for automotive applications would encourage the development
of low cost PEM units for use in stationary applications. The same
logic, however, has not brought the benefits of low cost ICE
technology to micro CHP and it is difficult to see how the requirements
of the automotive industry for low cost, short life, high power density, flexible output
motive power units can be transferred to micro CHP where requirements
for long life, low service and high efficiency are paramount.
However, the majority of
fuel cells currently installed are of this type, albeit heavily
subsidised by the Japanese Government. Performance to date has
been variable, with some systems delivering little or no savings.
Both electrical and overall efficiencies have been relatively low, but
for Japanese market conditions, PEM technology with its ability to
modulate and cycle relatively quickly is still being pursued as a viable
technology. |
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Vaillant,
the European boiler manufacturer, have established a partnership with
PlugPower (USA) to integrate the PEM stack into an micro CHP
system. However, the focus so far has been on multi-family homes
(small apartment blocks) comprising 4 or more homes. The fuel cell
is connected to a thermal store and a supplementary boiler, allowing the
fuel cell to operate more or less continuously.. A number of these units
are being trialled as part of the EU funded VPP (Virtual Power Plant)
project.
Vaillant are now working with Webasto on SOFC technology having
delayed plans to take their PEM technology to market. |
Baxi Innotech announced a collaboration with Ballard in March 2009 to
further develop their PEM package based on previous work by European
Fuel Cells (previously Hamburg Gas Consult, formerly owned by EON AG, the German utility).
EFC had previously demonstrated a number
of prototype units in apartment blocks in Hamburg, but Baxi have since
demonstrated individual home units in UK and Germany with an electrical output of
2kWe, although current versions have a reduced electrical output of 1kWe.
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Viessmann are developing their own PEM
technology in collaboration with German Universities. To date they
have not demonstrated units in the field. |
The PEM Fuel Cells included in the Japanese ENE FARM project all
have similar characteristics (1kWe), except for the Eneos which has a
slightly lower electrical output (750We) to enable it to achieve longer
run hours. All are equipped
with a supplementary heater to provide operational flexibility,
incorporated in a separate cabinet which also houses the hot water
storage tank.
The field trial programme involved a number of Japanese gas utilities
including Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas and totalled over 2000
installations.
However, this is primarily a technical trial as the
initial cost remains at least an order of magnitude beyond target
production costs.
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The PEM Fuel Cells included in the Japanese ENE FARM project all
have similar characteristics (1kWe), except for the Eneos which has a
slightly lower electrical output (750We) to enable it to achieve longer
run hours. All are equipped
with a supplementary heater to provide operational flexibility,
incorporated in a separate cabinet which also houses the hot water
storage tank.
The field trial programme involved a number of Japanese gas utilities
including Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas and totalled over 2000
installations.
However, this is primarily a technical trial as the
initial cost remains at least an order of magnitude beyond target
production costs.
|
The PEM Fuel Cells included in the Japanese ENE FARM project all
have similar characteristics (1kWe), except for the Eneos which has a
slightly lower electrical output (750We) to enable it to achieve longer
run hours. All are equipped
with a supplementary heater to provide operational flexibility,
incorporated in a separate cabinet which also houses the hot water
storage tank.
The field trial programme involved a number of Japanese gas utilities
including Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas and totalled over 2000
installations.
However, this is primarily a technical trial as the
initial cost remains at least an order of magnitude beyond target
production costs.
|
The PEM Fuel Cells included in the Japanese ENE FARM project all
have similar characteristics (1kWe), except for the Eneos which has a
slightly lower electrical output (750We) to enable it to achieve longer
run hours. All are equipped
with a supplementary heater to provide operational flexibility,
incorporated in a separate cabinet which also houses the hot water
storage tank.
The field trial programme involved a number of Japanese gas utilities
including Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas and totalled over 2000
installations.
However, this is primarily a technical trial as the
initial cost remains at least an order of magnitude beyond target
production costs.
|
The PEM Fuel Cells included in the Japanese ENE FARM project all
have similar characteristics (1kWe), except for the Eneos which has a
slightly lower electrical output (750We) to enable it to achieve longer
run hours. All are equipped
with a supplementary heater to provide operational flexibility,
incorporated in a separate cabinet which also houses the hot water
storage tank.
The field trial programme involved a number of Japanese gas utilities
including Osaka Gas, Toho Gas and Tokyo Gas and totalled over 2000
installations.
However, this is primarily a technical trial as the
initial cost remains at least an order of magnitude beyond target
production costs.
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