The battery world site

Home fuel cell power transmission

Manhattan, Starwood's Sheraton Hotel (Starwoods Sheraton Hotel), World Trade Center site on the new Freedom Tower (Freedom Tower), Verizon's call center on Long Island, northern Sierra Nevada of California wineries, Connecticut Whole Foods supermarket (Whole Foods Market), no association of these places seem, they have one thing in common - are converted to electrical energy using the hydrogen fuel cell-powered, which not only saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Since fuel cells since the 60s into the commercial use, but until today the formation of industrial real. Industry giant United Technologies Corporation (United Technologies) who have NASA (NASA) Apollo spacecraft fuel cell manufacturer, has since been committed to reducing the price of the battery, the company's revenue last year, 54.8 billion U.S. dollars. Fuel Cell Energy (FuelCell Energy) was founded in 1969, is relying on the support of government research funds from the then small company all the way to today, in the past few decades, the company's product cost is too high, not with the grid electricity price competition.

But today, the two with the Department, Connecticut company is to reduce costs, speed up production, and soon will be able to create profits. (United Technologies does not separate the fuel cell sector, announced its financial condition, and fuel cell energy company in the first nine months of fiscal year income of $ 75,000,000, an operating loss of $ 70,000,000.) Senior leaders of the two companies said the scale of effect will reduce product cost, fuel cells will become the logical choice for businesses and households. In addition, earlier this month, the Government rescue package included in the 1100 billion dollars in tax breaks for fuel cells provide a 30% federal tax credit, which will also contribute to development of the industry.

Both companies are expanding, which will create much government leaders and environmentalists have talked about "green jobs." United Technologies fuel cell sector is now (UTC Power) and fuel cell energy company employees 700 and 500, respectively. Fuel Cell Energy CEO Dan Bada (Dan Brdar), said his business this year, the number of fuel cells produced three times last year. UTC President Yang Fan Duoken (Jan Van Dokkum), said: "I think our volume of business a few years will reach 10 billion."

All just a matter of time. Since the 19th century, the core technology to be people to fully grasp. Fuel cell by a chemical process combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water. Compared to traditional coal plants or natural gas power plants, fuel cells do not burn energy, so greatly reduced emissions. (United Technologies also provides bus and fuel cell cars.)

But fuel cells or hydrogen in the process of production of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide emissions. Stationary fuel cell to separate hydrogen from the fuel, before the fuel is natural gas or propane, and now more from landfills, sewage treatment plants or food processing plants received emissions. Bada said: "Now in the U.S., 40% of our company is to rely on biomass gas power stations." Such as the Sierra Nevada Brewery is to use its sewage treatment plant waste methane as a fuel source.

Fewer emissions, power generation more

Mobile users of the fuel cell is its most attractive than the centralized power grid model plus power plants more efficient. In other words, using the same amount of fuel can be issued more power. This is because they can collect and use waste heat to heat water for the building to provide heating or air conditioning; the other hand, centralized power plants is because two- thirds of all energy generated by waste heat released into the air the way, or in wasted during transmission.

UTC President Fanduo Ken said: "No one will waste for every 67 cents to $ 1, but that is the extent of the big power plant waste." Moreover, the fuel cell is mobile, that can be built where the customer , so they do not worry about long-distance transmission of electricity to bring waste.

But the cost is still a big problem. According to Fan Duoken said, UTC Fuel Cells 400 kW new - enough to power a supermarket - the cost per kWh is 11 to 12 cents, assuming a gas price per MMBtu $ 8.50. In New York, New England and California, than the high cost of grid electricity, but in other places, due to mainly rely on thermal power, hydropower and nuclear power, grid electricity is more expensive. If Congress passes climate change bill, the cost of thermal power will increase, making fuel cells more competitive.

UTC has customers in 19 countries installed more than 260 units of stationary fuel cell system, the users, including hotels, hospitals, data centers, wastewater treatment plants and schools, they usually need to secure uninterrupted supply of electricity at the same time want to use waste heat for the building to provide heating, air conditioning and hot water, so the favored fuel cell power generation mode. New York Power Authority (New York Power Authority) has already ordered 12 UTC 400 kW fuel cell, will be installed on the construction of the World Trade Center site Freedom Tower and other buildings.

Fuel Cell Energy companies make a bigger Battery - 1.2 to 2.4 megawatts, can power for large hotels and hospitals - has already sold 80 units, its customers include utilities in Korea, the United States of wastewater treatment plant , hospitals, prisons, and by the Campbell Soup Company (Campbell Soup Company), a subsidiary of the Hartford suburb of Pepperidge Farm, established in a pastry factory. "They asked 24 hours power, full use of waste heat (waste heat can bake cakes bread factory), while corporate culture and promoting sustainable development." Bada said.

So the next time, you the Sierra Nevada's pale ale, chewing Pepperidge Farm goldfish crackers when small, they can calm mind, because you eat these things contain carbon footprint has been reduced a little.

Other Electronics News:

⇒⇒⇒ lenovo battery

⇒⇒⇒ laptop battery

⇒⇒⇒ lifebook c2330 battery

⇒⇒⇒ lifebook n6210 battery

⇒⇒⇒ lenovo thinkpad t500 battery

⇒⇒⇒ Sony VGP-BPS8 battery