ACAL Energy Starts Operation of 1kW Liquid Cathode Fuel Cell System

Cheshire, UK – 25th August 2009 -- ACAL Energy, a leading developer of affordable and reliable fuel cell technology, announced today the successful start-up of its kilowatt-scale fuel cell system using its patented liquid cathode technology, FlowCath®. The hydrogen-fuelled ‘short-stack’ unit has already achieved a continuous power output of over 600W, and will deliver over 1.5kW with the full stack, expected later this summer. Fuel cell systems utilizing FlowCath® ultimately will be a clean and economically sensible alternative to diesel and gasoline generators in stationary and transportation applications requiring between 1kW and 200kW of electrical power.

ACAL Energy’s FlowCath® technology replaces up to 90% of the current level of platinum catalyst in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell with a low cost, durable liquid chemical. ACAL Energy has developed a family of proprietary chemical compounds that can deliver the same level of fuel cell performance as platinum, and which are expected to exceed this level in the future. The technology also significantly reduces the balance of plant costs by eliminating the need for hydration, pressurization, complex cooling and other expensive mechanical sub-systems commonly found in conventional PEM fuel cells.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan]

Speaking on the five year anniversary of the Company’s formation, Dr S B Cha, Chief Executive Officer of ACAL Energy said: “This unit represents a 20-fold scale-up from our last demonstration unit. It is a tremendous achievement by our very talented team of engineers and scientists and a key step towards commercialization of the technology. Our business strategy is to offer FlowCath® to fuel cell system manufacturers in the form of a stack and supporting mechanical elements in addition to our proprietary chemical solution. We will soon make data from the 1kW unit available to key OEM partners to enable them to start designing systems incorporating FlowCath®.”

For further information, please contact Amanda Lyne at ACAL Energy:
Tel: +44 (0)1928 511581
E-mail : alyne@acalenergy.co.uk
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About ACAL Energy Limited:http://www.acalenergy.co.uk/
ACAL Energy is a developer of a new fuel cell technology that will enable low cost and highly reliable fuel cell systems for a wide variety of applications. The company was founded in August 2004 by FlowCath® inventor Dr Andrew Creeth and is headquartered in Runcorn, UK.
FlowCath® is a registered trademark of ACAL Energy Ltd.

New power converter of high-voltage/large-capacity; switching frequency = 2kHz

A new power converter of high voltage and large capacity has been developed.
The major improvements of the power converter are:
1) The switching frequency of the power converter is considerably increased (4 times).
2) As the result of the increase of the switching frequency, a power converter facility using the power converters is significantly reduced ((about 1/5).
This type of the power converter will find its application in near-future electric power fields, including smart grid, mega-solar, wind power generation, and high speed railways.
The technologies and products in those fields are developed and market-deployed currently and in near future in the world. In this respect, the power converter technology developed this time is significant.
Co-developed by AIST, TOSHIBA, TMEIC, Tokyo Metolopolitan University, and Ibaraki National College of Technology
1) The switching frequency of the power converter is considerably increased. The switching frequency achieved this time is 4 times that of the conventional power converter. The power elements used are SiC diode and Si-IEGT. Specifically, large area SiC-PiN diodes of 4 mm square and Si-IEGTs were combined into a high speed switching module. Si-IEGT was supplied from TOSHIBA. The large area SiC-PiN diode is of 6 kV class and has excellent features of low loss and high speed operation. The SiC-PiN diode was developed on the basis of the SiC-element area-increasing technology, developed and accumulated by AIST. A cooling device for cooling the switch modules and a high-speed gate drive circuit were also developed (Figure 3). The switching frequency of the switching module formed was 2kHz. This figure is four times of the conventional device.
The conventional power converter is based on Si diode and Si-IEGT. The switching characteristic of the Si diode inherently limits the switching frequency of the Si-IEGT to 500 Hz.
A prototype of a power converter was constructed which used high speed switching modules and was based on the single-phase three-level power conversion, and the power capacity of which was ± 5 kV – 300 kVA (Fig. 5)
The performances of the prototype were demonstrated. The figure representative of its switching frequency was confirmed.
2) A power converter facility using the power converters newly developed is significantly reduced. The considerable increase of the switching frequency of the power converter allows a designer to employ the 3-level power conversion system for the power conversion (Fig. 4). Where this power conversion system is used, there is no need of using the insulating transformer. Further, the considerable increase of the switching frequency improves the wave shape of the output power of the power converter. The improved wave shape remarkably reduces the capacity of the filter for filtering out the distorted wave components. The size of the power converter facility was about 1/5 of the conventional one.
In the conventional high-voltage/large-power power converter, the serial multiplexing system has been used for power conversion. This power conversion system essentially needs the insulating transformer. The transformer occupies about the half of the entire space of the power converter facility. The filter occupies about 1/4 of the entire space.
When the output powers of the 3-level power converter and the switching element are compared with each other, the former is substantially double of the latter in terms of switching frequency.
Written based on AIST’s news release, issued on August 4, 2009
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
Note: For figures used, refer to Aist's news release written in Japanese.
If any, ask AIST or feel free to contact us at infonenryo@gmail.com

Keywords: power converter, high voltage, high capacity, switching frequency, power converter facility, SiC-PiN diode, Si-IEGT, 3-level power converter

Energy sector set up “Research Association for Hydrogen Infrastructure Building”

Recently, in Japan, there were two large moves toward the next generation vehicles.
1) Energy sector set up “Research Association for Hydrogen Infrastructure Building” (FCV: fuel cell vehicle)
2) Four big companies set up “Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council” (EV: electric vehicle)

1) Energy sector set up “Research Association for Hydrogen Infrastructure Building”
Strong social demand impelled the Japanese energy sector to set up the research association for developing basic technologies for deploying the hydrogen infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Japanese automakers will also participate in the research association.
Objective of the research association is to develop technologies of hydrogen extraction and transport, maintenance, and management of hydrogen utilization, and others for the purpose of deploying the hydrogen infrastructure for full-fledge spread of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
Large cost taken for building the hydrogen infrastructure urges those companies in the industrial sector to take an action to establish the research association.
About 700 oku-yen will be spent till 2015. * 1 oku-yen = 100,000,000 yen
Several tens of hydrogen stations will be built in the areas of big cities in Japan.
A large scale demonstration test will start within this year by using those stations. Target price of hydrogen supplied to FCV is comparable with the current oil price.
(Prepared based on some Japanese medias)

2) Four big companies set up “Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council”
Mitsubishi, Subaru, NISSAN, and TEPCO are plan to establish “Rapid Charger Infrastructure Promotion Council (tentative)” within this year.
Those companies will invite other companies to join the council.
[Other companies: e.g., battery charger manufacturers, and battery charger service providers]
Currently, those auto-manufacturers have respectively developed the rapid chargers in cooperation with TEPCO, and currently employ those developed chargers of which specifications are different from one another.
To achieve a full-fledge spread of EVs, it is essential to unify those different specifications.
(Source: http://car.nikkei.co.jp/release/article.aspx?id=227531)

* Mitsubishi and Subaru: launched EVs on this July
* NISSAN: will launch EVs next year, price of the EV is about 2/3 of the current EV sold by other companies.

World’s largest SOFC platform, demonstrated by NexTech Materials

NexTech Materials, Ltd. recently completed scale-up of its FlexCell™ solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology to a nominal area of 1200 cm2 and power output of 400 watts per cell, believed to be the largest production planar fuel cells.
This development represents a significant accomplishment in the advancement of its planar fuel cell technology, and together with the many advanced features of the FlexCell™ technology, is enabling for large-scale power applications.
NexTech began development of it FlexCell™ platform in 2006 and has previously produced cells in the 50 to 100-watt class.
These have been deployed for production of stacks intended for military, transportation and micro-CHP applications.
The large area cells are intended for large stationary power systems, including combined heat and power systems, distributed generation, and for use in combined coal gasification and fuel cell systems.
NexTech’s FlexCell™ technology:
NexTech’s FlexCell™ technology is an innovative electrolyte-supported SOFC. It incorporates NexTech’s patent pending sulfur tolerant anode system, its durable cathode, and a thin high performance electrolyte. The name is derived from the fuel cell’s ability to operate on a variety of fuels (fuel flexible) and due to its flexible mechanical nature that is manufacturable and durable for a variety of applications.
>> To learn more

Contact:
Dr. Scott Swartz
s.swartz@nextechmaterials.com
(614) 842-6606, extension 103
NexTech Materials, Ltd.
404 Enterprise Drive
Lewis Center, OH 43035
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About NexTech Materials:
NexTech’s vision is to be a global leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative products for energy and environmental markets. NexTech is a leading developer and supplier of materials, components and services for the fuel cell industry and is dedicated to reducing the manufacturing and operating costs of fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. NexTech’s customers are located in over 35 countries and include leading researchers, developers and manufacturers throughout the world. NexTech Materials, Ltd. was founded as a privately held company in 1994 and has grown into one of Ohio’s leading technology companies. NexTech recently expanded its manufacturing and R&D facilities located in Lewis Center Ohio. NexTech has many products in the pipeline including fuel cell stacks for military and residential power applications, sensors for gas detection and control systems, catalysts for energy conversion systems, and membranes for gas separation devices.

Innovative solar lens, no need of sun tracker

最小高度の光線　solar rays at the minimum altitude of the sun
最大高度の光線 solar rays at the maximum altitude of the sun
入射面 incident face
出光面 light emitting face
前斜面 front slanted face
後斜面 back slanted face

Unique solar lens. The solar lens, while in a stationary state, condenses sun rays coming from every azimuth direction and at every elevation angle and guides them onto the solar module, and substantially halves the solar module area, when the solar lens is applied to the solar panel. Use of the solar lens eliminates the need of using the driving mechanism for turning the solar panel to trace the sun for maximum sun rays gathering.
It is said that if the solar panel is turned so that it always direct its front surface toward the sun, the amount of generated power is 2 to 3 times that generated from the solar module, which is set in stationary state.
As seen from the explanatory diagram above, the solar lens condenses sun rays coming from every azimuth direction and at every elevation angle, and emits the conensed rays from the light emitting face, which is narrower than the incident face.
Thus, the solar lens is capable of condensing sun rays coming from every azimuth direction and at every elevation angle with no aid of the sun tracker.
The solar panel incorporating the solar lens is simple in construction and cost effective, and substantially maintenance free.
The solar lenses thus constructed may be laterally arrayed to form a bar-like lens. The bar-like lens may be made of a single material, such as glass or resin. In this case, molding process may be used for forming the bar-like lens in mass production.
Applications: solar panel, optical duct for natural light, size reduction and performance improvement of ever type of solar heating system, and others.
The inventor is Motoaki Masuda. The current status of invention is in patent pending. The inventor desires to actively utilize the invention in any of the following: 1) production consignment, 2) patent licensing and 3) co-development.
The invention is currently managed by “The Risona Foundation for Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion”.
>> If any question, feel free to contact us at infonenryo@gmail.com.

SDK Develops Bipolar-Type Carbon Separators for PEFCs

Showa Denko K.K. (SDK) has developed new technologies to produce low-cost carbon separators that will increase output density of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Specifically, SDK has established technologies to produce carbon separators with lower cost and lighter weight by making substantial changes in the process and raw materials. At the same time, SDK has achieved an increase of around 30% in output density compared with PEFCs made earlier by SDK on a trial basis. These technical developments have been supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). ... > Source

TOKYO GAS increases sales target number of ENEFARMs

TOKYO GAS put ENEFARMs (residential fuel cell cogenerating systems) on the market on this May. The results of sales of ENEFARMs show that the ENEFARM cogenerators have been sold in an unexpected way. The number of ENEFARMs having been sold up to now to customers having already built houses has reached the target number of sales.
The fact teaches that the customers who will reform their houses show relatively high interest in ENEFARMs. On the basis of this fact, the company decided to increase the target number of sales from 1,500 units to 2,100 units.
Before putting ENEFARMs on the market, the company predicted that it would be easy to sell ENEFARMs to customers newly building houses.
In the sales plan, the target number of sales of ENEFARMs was set at about 1,500 units a year. About 1,000 units of the target number were assigned to the customers who will build new houses.
[Copyright by FuelCell japan: http://www.fcpat-japan.com/]
Prepared based on "business i".