FuelCell Energy - SOFC
(<25 kW)

FuelCell Energy is a world leader in the commercialization of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. The SOFC is better suited for use with the existing hydrocarbon infrastructure because SOFCs do not require pure hydrogen, and this approach may provide an accelerated path to commercialization. FCE is currently prototyping residential and remote power systems to be fuelled by natural gas or propane.

FuelCell Energy's solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a ceramic planar (flat, square or rectangular) cell, with a solid electrolyte that is anode supported (the thickest component to which all other materials are subsequently mounted) and conducts oxygen ions.

FCE's prototyping program is advancing rapidly. The Company's objective is to test systems for the remainder of 2003 in order to develop a stable platform for field trials in 2004

The Reforming Advantage

In the foreseeable future, today's hydrocarbon fuel infrastructure will be the only economic source of hydrogen for fuel cells. In order to use hydrocarbons, these fuels must be reformed—a process whereby the hydrogen in the hydrocarbon fuel separates from the carbon through a thermal reaction. SOFCs require only simple reforming and can even reform hydrocarbon fuels internally within the stack. This gives SOFCs a significant advantage in today's marketplace.

The first step in the reforming process is to heat the hydrocarbon fuel to a temperature of between 700°C and 900°C, then pass the resulting gas over a catalyst along with water vapour. This very simple process is widely used in industry, such as in production of ammonia for fertilizer. The catalyst promotes a reaction that frees hydrogen and combines carbon with oxygen to form carbon monoxide. The result is a mixed gas stream of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. SOFCs do not require a stream of pure hydrogen fuel, and therefore, there is no need to further process the mixed gas fuel stream to remove the carbon monoxide.

For other systems, such as PEM fuel cell systems where carbon monoxide will poison the cell membrane, costly and complex post processing must be undertaken. In fact, FCE's SOFC uses carbon monoxide as a fuel.

More Information

FuelCell Energy Incorporated
3 Great Pasture Road
Danbury, CT 06813

Telephone: 203-825-6000

Visit their web site at www.fuelcellenergy.com

Source: Global Thermoelectric web site 8/02; revised for FuelCell Energy 11/2004