Acumentrics SOFC Fuel Cell Tops 10,000 Operating Hours

An Acumentrics Corporation fuel cell system has exceeded 10,500 hours of operation to become the  longest-running small scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. 
           
“This demonstration of durability is an important step in proving the compelling value proposition of the tubular SOFC to customers who are using far less efficient technologies,” said Acumentrics President and CEO Gary Simon. 

The 5kW tubular SOFC system, designed to provide stationary, auxiliary and backup power for commercial, industrial and military applications, began operation at Acumentrics’ facility in July 2006 as a
demonstration that the technology could meet the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) minimum performance targets. 

After meeting or exceeding all targets in tests at the National Energy Technology Lab the unit was shipped back and restarted at the Acumentrics facility. 

Recently, Acumentrics received a $15.6 million DOE award to continue advancement of the company’s tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. 

In parallel with development of the 5kW system, Acumentrics is preparing to bring a 1kW residential SOFC micro combined heat and power (mCHP) system to market. The system operates on natural gas and is designed to meet the power and heating needs of an average-size European home using a 1 kilowatt solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in combination with a 24 kilowatt condensing boiler.  A fully functionalprototype was demonstrated to potential utility partners in Germany in October 2007. 

Source: Fuel Cell Today