Raymond Anthony George

Status of tubular SOFC field unit demonstrations

Abstract Siemens Westinghouse is in the final stage of its tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) development program, and the program emphasis has shifted from basic technology development to cost reduction, scale-up and demonstration of pre-commercial power systems at customer sites. This paper describes our field unit demonstration program including the EDB/ELSAM 100-kW e combined heat and power (CHP) system, the Southern California Edison (SCE) 220-kW e pressurized SOFC/gas turbine (PSOFC/GT) power system, and the planned demonstrations of commercial prototype power systems. In the Spring of 1999, the EDB/ELSAM 100-kW e SOFC–CHP system produced 109 kW e net AC to the utility grid at 46% electrical efficiency and 65 kW t to the hot water district heating system, verifying the analytical predictions. The SCE 220-kW e PSOFC/GT power system will undergo factory startup in the Fall of 1999.

Direct utilization of hydrocarbon fuels in high temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuel cells

Utilization of hydrocarbon fuels such as methane and bottled natural gas has been successfully demonstrated in the operation of high-temperature solid oxide electrolyte fuel cells. Previous experimental work is reviewed, and the operation of air tubular fuel cells containing yttria-stabilized-zirconia solid electrolyte at 1000 degrees C and 250 mA/cm/sup 2/ current density, maintaining fuel and oxidant utilizations of 85% and 25%, respectively, is reported. Stable cell voltages and hydrocarbon reformation profiles along the cell length were obtained during the cell tests.<<ETX>>