Technology

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

SOFC

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is a highly efficient electrochemical device that converts hydrogen and carbon monoxide from hydrocarbon fuels directly into electricity. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells use dense solid oxide as electrolyte material that conduct negative oxygen ions from cathode to anode.

At anode, electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen (H2) or carbon monoxide (CO) takes place and at cathode oxygen reduction reaction takes place

They operate at temperature ranging from 600°C to 1000°C and offer the following key advantages:

Advantages

  • Operate at a higher temperature, do not require precious metal catalyst
  • Operate on wide variety of hydrocarbon fuels
  • Produce the highest electrical efficiency
  • Most suited for continuous operation
  • Can use heat recovery technologies for a total system efficiency of up to 85 percent
  • Near zero emissions and quiet operation, with low maintenance
  • Compared to existing generation technologies
They have a wide variety of applications form use as auxiliary in vehicles to stationary power generation. The higher operating temperature makes them a suitable candidate for application with cogeneration or combined hear and power which further increases the overall efficiency. Light hydrocarbon fuels such as methane, propane & butane can be internally reformed within the anode and heavier hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel or biofuels can be externally reformed.

Powder to Power

mPower

10kW – 100’s kW

  • High power density up to 38 W/cell, (SOFC)
  • Active area 127 cm2
  • Multiple Operating modes on
    simultaneous basis: SOFC, SOEC, rSOC
  • Electrolyte supported cells made from
    fully stabilized zirconium dioxide (10ScSZ)
  • Gas utilization upto 85%
  • Tested for high contaminants tolerance :
    Airside – H2O, CO2, SOX.
    Fuel Side- H2S (<5ppm tested)

Tested in continuous operation >20,000 h in SOFC @ 820°C 

HEXIS

0.5kW – 15kW

  • Post combustion – heat exchanger and stack in close thermal contact
  • Temperature 800-900°C
  • Active area 100 cm²
  • Pressure drop only few mbars
    – no glass sealings
  • Powder metallurgical MICs based on CFY,
    Electrolyte: 6ScSZ
    – ceramic anodes
    – protection layers
    – low degradation rates (0.3%/kh; 13 mΩcm²/kh)

SOFC

Competing Technologies

SOFC

SOFC CHP SYSTEMS

Leonardo

  • Peak Electrical Efficiency:
    59 % DC @ 85 % FU
  • Continuous operation
    @ 1260 WAC,net; 50.4 % AC, net; 94 % ηtotal
  • Based on steam reforming and Self-sustaining process water operation
  • Modulation capability similar to CPOx-system: down to 650 Wthermal
  • Operated for more than 10’000 h without component failure
  • Will be basis for future system (over-next-generation)

Galileo

  • Electrical power output:
    1.5 kWel (AC, net)
  • Thermal power output: ca. 2 kWth
  • Fuel: Natural gas (incl. H2 mix)
  • Modulation range: 100 % – 30 %
    all-year operation possible with warm water generation
  • Electrical efficiency: 40% AC, net (CPOx)
  • Total efficiency: 95% (LHV, TReturn= 30°C)
  • Lifetime unit: 15 years
  • Lifetime SOFC stack:
    5-7 years, > 40’000 h
    demonstrated: 40’000 h (Galileo), 50’000 h (Shortstack), 19’000 h (FCU)

Kalam

  • Nominal Power output 1.2kWel (AC,net)
  • Usable heat output of 23 to 35 kWth/day
    [Upto 200-500 lit/day hot water]
  • Electrical efficiency (Gross) 45% and combined (CHP) efficiency of >85%.
  • Operational Lifetime of >30,000-40,000 Hrs.
  • Size [WxDxH] : 3 ft.X 1.5 ft.X 4.5 ft. (approx.)

SOFC

SOFC HYBRID – SOFC + PV + BATTERY

EVolt for EV Charging

h2e was the awardees of start-up India grant through the IOCL start up
scheme project under the banner of the GoI Startup India Initiative

EVolt Highlights

  • Resource Maximisation: Ready conversion of present infrastructure to extend as charging stations for Electric Vehicles.
  • Multi Fuel Capability: External Fuel Reformer for Diesel and Internal Fuel Reformer for CNG with options for Biogas/Bio-CNG and alternate fuel.
  • Combined Heat and Power:
  • 45% to 55% Electrical efficiency with CHP efficiency above of 85%.
  • Solar – Fuel Cell Hybrid providing 24×7, reliable electricity with best TCO.
  • Reduced direct costs of energy due to fuel savings.

SOFC

H2E’S INTEGRATED APPROACH

REFORMER TECHNOLOGY - DIESEL

5 kWe Output Power Diesel reformer

  • Start-up time is within 45 min. from zero to full-load operation.
  • Sulphur removal in gaseous phase in Hydro Desulfurizer (HDS) bed.
  • Fast Startup (< 15 min) and higher turndown ratio (30% to 100%).
  • Efficiency of the reformer over 80%
  • Sulphur concentration of the reformer out gas: < 0.5 ppm
  • Expected Durability >25000h (catalyst durability)
  • Integrated reformer with burner & heat exchangers as per application requirements.

REFORMER TECHNOLOGY - Natural Gas/BIOGAS/ LPG

Internal - Reformer for SOFC

  • 100% external to 100% Internal reformation of on stack.
  • High tolerance for impurities in the fuel.
  • Efficiency of the reformation over stack > 90%.
  • Stable operation on thermodynamic equilibrium
  • Thermally self- sustaining
  • Cost effective integrated reformer

GALLERY

Manufacturing Facility

State of the art facility in Winterthur, Switzerland and Pune, India to produce 1.5kW, 4kW, 10kW and 50kW SOFC systems. 

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