|
|
|
February 15, 2010
Natural Gas Fuel Cell
I just came across an Australian Company, Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd., that makes a solid oxide natural gas fuel cell, BlueGen™, that can produce electricity and heat. BlueGen™ is a the latest breakthrough in small scale electricity generation - a modular style fuel cell generator that can be configured to suit a range of different markets and installations. For markets that require an alternative product approach to fully-integrated 'European style' systems, such as Japan, Northern America and Australia - BlueGen™ bridges that gap.I do see a few problems. It takes 20 hours to get the system up to operational temperature. So far it is only available in 50 Hz models. The USA uses 60 Hz. You have to burn gas to keep the system hot even if you are not using the heat or electricity. One very good thing: It will self power if you lose mains power - if it is hot enough. With all the new natural gas being discovered a system like this might make a lot of sense. If the price is right. For those interested: there is no North American Distributor. It looks like an opportunity to me. H/T Seeking Alpha article and comments on the coming glut in natural gas supplies. Cross Posted at Power and Control posted by Simon on 02.15.10 at 03:09 AM
Comments
Bob, It is not a heat engine. Heat is a byproduct. It is a fuel cell - a chemical "engine". Conversion from natural gas to electricity runs 50% to 60% near full load. M. Simon · February 15, 2010 12:25 PM Ah. This thing still has a thermodynamics problem compared to large-scale cells, and its startup time makes it useless as emergency generation. I note that the website carefully avoids telling you how much it costs and the expected payback period for the no doubt substantial capital investment. Large-scale stationary cells are better than 5-8% more efficient than this one, which is the difference in transmission losses. A cute toy, but not a serious energy solution. Bob Smith · February 15, 2010 03:40 PM Bob, Something like this makes sense for winter cabin warming. Or emergency heat back up in winter. Electricity goes out? You have heat (power to furnace blower) and radio power. Start it in the fall and don't turn it off until spring. Any way this is just the first in a long line of these type devices. Is it the answer to everything? No. But it is an answer to winter storms that knock out the grid. M. Simon · February 16, 2010 01:51 AM Post a comment
You may use basic HTML for formatting.
|
|
February 2010
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
February 2010
January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 AB 1634 MBAPBSAAGOP Skepticism See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
• Liberal disgust over conservative disgust -- cheerfully discussed by disgusted libertarian!
• Heartwarming news for coldhearted skeptics • Natural Gas Fuel Cell • the inside skinny on the fatwa of the fiqh • Alinskyism before Alinsky: an ancient but uncredited legacy • Why We Can't Work It Out • The Wheels Are Coming Off • the war against plain • Red Meat To The Masses • Scientist Quits
Links
Site Credits
|
|
This thing's a heat engine, right? The problem with small-scale heat engines is that they're inefficient. It's an inescapable fact of geometry. That's why the lefty fetish for local generation is crazy. You lose far more in efficiency than you gain in transmission losses.