Development of High Efficiency and Quick Start SOFC Steadily Progresses

A regional R & D consortium has continued a high performance SOFC which is featured with high efficiency and quick start, aiming at commercialization of the SOFC in April 2011.

The cell part of the fuel cell takes a honeycomb structure. The structure enlarges a reaction area where oxygen reacts with hydrogen.
A unique technology to uniformize temperature distribution over the cell is also used. Use of this technology successfully makes the fuel cell hard to be broken even when the fuel cell is quickly started.

Start-up time of SOFC = 5 minutes
(1.5 hours in conventional SOFCs)
The output density of SOFC = 28 watts per one liter of the module volume
(6 watts in conventional SOFCs)

Size of 100 watts SOFC generator:
30 high x 25 wide x 18 deep (unit = cm)
The SOFC generator having this size is portable in handling.

Current technological problems - to reduce the cost of the fuel cell by using cheap metal for the current collector.
Technological problems after 2009 - to improve durability and impact resistance of the fuel cell and to further improve the efficiency and to reduce the size of the controller.

Applications of currently developing SOFC are:
Power sources in leisure and disaster sites and auxiliary power sources for electric vehicles

The local enterprises and Muroran Advancement Center of Industrial Technology and Management (MACITM) cooperatively wrestle with technology development to find solutions to how to efficiently and inexpensively supply hydrogen fuel, in Muroran of Hokkaido.

Regional SOFC R & D consortium:
The SOFC R & D consortium consists of 11 enterprises and university, including Phoenix Fuel Cells Co., Ltd., Muroran Institute of Technology, and is managed by Muroran Advancement Center of Industrial Technology and Management.
The SOFC development is currently done, with the initiative by PHOENIX FUEL CELLS, on the basis of the results of the study having been made by the R & D consortium for two years.

Source: Muroran Minpo
Refer also to news item 18