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AlliedSignal
AlliedSignal Aerospace
Company has been the primary U.S. developer of monolithic solid oxide fuel
cells with development of this technology sponsored by the U.S. Department
of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense. The monolithic SOFC
structure resembles the corrugated assembly used in cardboard boxes. The
small channels are formed from thin (25 to 100 mn) layers of active cell
components which serve for passage of the fuel and oxidant streams. In
this design the anode, cathode and solid electrolyte are tapecast or tape
calendered into thin layer structures. AlliedSignal has tested small SOFCs
of this type which have demonstrated relatively high current densities. more information on AlliedSignal
Analytic Power Corporation
Boston-based Analytic
Power Corporation was founded in 1984 and holds U.S. Patents for Unitized
Fuel Cells and Electrochemical Refrigeration. Products and products in
testing include: an ammonia cracker hydrogen source for small fuel cell
power supplies; 150-, 200- and 1,750-watt fuel cell power supplies; a
meteorological hydrogen generator; and a residential power generator.
Other technology currently under development includes: 2.5 MW fuel cell
power plant for Naval surface vessels; an electrochemically driven heat
pump for microclimate cooling applications; and a 10 kW advanced fuel cell
power plant with autothermal reforming fuel processor and electrochemical
compressor. Analytic Power is investigating advanced fuel processing
methods as part of development of a low-cost, natural gas reforming power
plant for distributed power applications. more information on Analytic Power
Corporation
Avista
Laboratories
Located
in Spokane, Washington, Avista Laboratories currently is involved in the
development, research and testing of a 2-kilowatt Polymer Electrolyte
Membrane fuel cell plant for on-site power generation. They are supported
by Washington Water Power and the Spokane Intercollegiate Research and
Technology Institute (SIRTI). They also are developing new low cost
membrane technologies, aimed at higher performance and increased
reliability. They plan to begin marketing a educational fuel cell kit,
designed to convey principles of fuel cell technologies to students,
hobbyists, and other enthusiasts, and incorporating an actual working
model of a solid polymer fuel cell. more information on Avista
Laboratories
Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power
Systems has developed a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell available
for both stationary and vehicular applications. Ballard's fuel cells
convert natural gas, methanol, and hydrogen into zero-emissions power.
Ballard has teamed with Ford and Daimler-Benz to develop a clean vehicle
engine comparable in size, speed, and operating life to conventional ones.
Having produced an engine with a viable size/power ratio, the company is
now working to reduce its cost and develop volume production capability.
The company's stationary applications subsidiary, Ballard Generation
Systems, is developing power plant applications that emphasize high
quality electrical output and security of power during outages. In
addition, remote, recreational, and emergency power applications are on
the horizon. more information on Ballard
Power Systems
DCH Technology- Hydrogen
Sensors and Fuel Cells
A Valencia, California firm, DCH
Technology, Inc. specializes in licensing and converting new ideas and
technologies into state-of-the-art products. DCH Technology has developed
a PEM fuel cell, through our wholly-owned subsidiary, EnAble™ Fuel Cell
Corporation, as well as sensors for hydrogen and other gases. DCH's rapid
growth and impeccable industry reputation indicate that the company is
already a growth-oriented leader in the gas detection, clean energy, and
safety industries. more information on DCH
Technology
Energy Partners
Energy Partners was
founded in 1990 by John H. Perry, Jr. , a pioneer of fuel cell research
since 1968, for the sole purpose of research and development of proton
exchange membrane fuel cells. The company has delivered prototypes
producing up to 10kW dc. Developed as a joint venture between Energy
Partners, Inc., Western Golf Car and Telesis Cogeneration was the Genesis
Zero Emission Transporter, an electric, zero-emission concept vehicle,
powered by hydrogen fuel a concept vehicle and designed to address
California's emission regulations. Another vehicle, the "Gator," a
fuel-cell powered utility vehicle completed in 1996, is powered by a
hydrogen/air 10 kW PEM fuel cell and was developed in a collaborative
effort by Energy Partners, Inc. and Deere & Company as a test
platform. This vehicle, normally used for lawn and grounds care, also
includes a dc/ac inverter which allows the fuel cell to power electric
tools. more information on Energy
Partners
FuelCell Energy
Founded in 1969 and
headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, FuelCell Energy is engaged in the
development and commercialization of electrochemical technology for
electric power generation and storage, including fuel cells and batteries.
The Fuel Cell Group implements the commercialization program for FCE's
carbonate fuel cell power plant, "Direct Fuel Cell" (DFC), which is
multi-fuel capable and can utilize natural gas, methanol, ethanol, bio-gas
and any other fuel that contains methane. During the past five years, FCE
has operated its Direct Fuel Cell technology in a series of successively
larger demonstrations, culminating in the largest fuel cell power plant
ever operated in the North America - the Santa Clara Demonstration
Project. Knowledge gained from these proof-of-concept demonstrations is
being applied to the next generation of Direct Fuel Cell power plants. The
heart of these 2.5 MW power plants is the DFC Model 9000 stack, each of
which can produce 300 kilowatts. more
information on FuelCell Energy
Ford Motor Company - TH!NK
Technologies
Ford Motor Company's TH!NK Technologies is
dedicated to engineering fuel cell and battery electric vehicles that
produce zero emissions. The Ford Focus FCV and Ford P2000 hydrogen fuel
cell vehicles combine high fuel economy, performance and comfort with
desirable electric vehicle attributes such as improved noise, vibration
and harshness (NVH) and zero tailpipe emissions. The P2000 utilizes a
stretched aluminum Ford Contour platform and the Focus FCV is based on the
Ford Focus - the world's best selling compact car. more information on Ford Motor
Company - TH!NK Technologies.
Global
Thermoelectric
Based in Alberta, Canada, Global Thermoelectric
launched its Fuel Cell Division in 1997. The division will aid in the
further enhancement of next generation power products that will provide
Global customers additional alternatives. The Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
program is based on the development and commercialization of one of the
leading solid oxide technologies from the Julich Research Institute in
Germany. more information on Global
Thermoelectric.
H Power Corporation
Based in Belleville, New
Jersey, H Power Corp. was founded in 1989 with one primary business focus:
Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells (PEMs). H Power has developed a line
of fuel cells for use in smaller, portable applications, ranging from 30
watts to 1,000 watts of power, for consumer and business products and the
US military. The company also has patents and is developing a range of
multi-kilowatt PEM fuel cells for powering buses, trucks and cars, as well
as for stationary applications to power homes and small businesses. In
March of 1998, H Power Corp. signed a $749,000 contract with the New
Jersey Department of Transportation to retrofit 65 "variable message"
traffic signs with fuel-cell backup power sources. The deal is being
hailed as the world's first commercial sale of mass-manufactured
Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell systems. more information on H Power Corporation
UTC Fuel
Cells
UTC Fuel Cells, a unit of United Technologies Corp.,
develops and manufactures fuel cell power plants for development for
commercial, transportation, residential and space applications. The
company has been the sole supplier of fuel cells for U.S. space missions
since the Apollo missions and continuing today with the Space Shuttle
program.
The company has manufactured a 200-kilowatt commercial fuel
cell power plant, the PC25, since 1991 and delivered more than 235 to
customers in 19 countries on five continents. Those power plants have
together accumulated some 4.7 million hours of operation.
UTC Fuel
Cells is partnered with several automakers, including Hyundai and BMW, to
develop fuel cells for cars, and with Irisbus and Thor Industries to
develop fuel cells for buses.
The company is also developing a
5-kilowatt residential fuel cell with its partner, Toshiba, which owns 10
percent of UTC Fuel Cells. more information on UTC
Fuel Cells.
Manhattan Scientifics,
Inc
With research headquarters based in Los Alamos, New Mexico,
Manhattan Scientifics, Inc. focuses on identifying, developing, and
commercializing emerging technologies. The company's current focus is on
leading edge advancement of consumer electronics. Currently, Manhattan
Scientifics Inc. is developing two technologies for commercialization: a
Micro-Fuel Cell™ for portable electronic devices and a holographic storage
medium. With close association with Los Alamos National Laboratory,
Manhattan Scientifics, Inc. has created a technology incubator with the
true potential to produce technology solutions that shape the future. more information on Manhattan
Scientifics.
M-C Power
M-C Power is a leading
developer of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) technology using a patented
design concept invented by the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT). Along
with IGT, M-C Power has partnered with the Bechtel Group of San,
Francisco, CA and Stewart & Stevenson Services, Inc. of Houston, TX.
An aggressive development and demonstration program is currently underway
with the goal of making olten carbonate fuel cells a commercial reality by
the year 2000. Part of the technology development program is a (MCFC)
power plant designed to supply 250 KW of electricity o the Naval Air
Station at Miramar, California. The plant cogenerates steam for the
district heating system and includes an innovative plate-type reformer,
which processes natural gas fuel for use in the fuel cells. more information on M-C Power
National Renewable Energy
Lab, Colorado (PEM)
The National
Renewable Energy Lab web site collects information on a variety of
alternative energy technologies, including electricity technologies,
photovoltaics, wind energy, and renewable energy resources. The NREL’s
Thermal Test Facility in Colorado is not only a research laboratory but
also a research project in its own right. The building has been designed
as an integrated system to link lighting, mechanical, water heating, and
daylight design technologies in an energy-efficient combination whose
effects can be measured and evaluated. Research at the site concentrates
on developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly building
equipment and energy systems. Information on renewable energy technologies
is available here. The homepage
for electricity technologies is here. A collection of articles
that maps the future of hydrogen technologies, and especially their use in
vehicle fuel cells, is available on the Hydrogen InfoNet here.
more information on National Renewable Energy
Lab.
Netherlands Energy Research
Foundation (MCFC, SOFC, and SPFC)
) The Netherlands
Energy Research Foundation (ECN) is the Netherlands’ leading energy
research institute, and performs basic and applied research on both
established and new, environmentally friendly energy resources. ECN is
developing three types of fuel cell technologies, the molten carbonate and
solid oxide fuel cells (both of which operate at high temperatures), and
the low-temperature solid polymer fuel cell (see the Fuel Cell page here). The MCFC
program concentrates on developing higher-performance and more robust
systems. The SOFC program focuses on ceramic parts for micro- and
mini-cogeneration systems. The SPFC program is working to develop an
affordable methanol-fed fuel-cell system for use in vehicles. more information on Netherlands Energy Research
Foundation.
Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, Tennessee
Among the
wide-ranging programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is its research on
solid oxide fuel cell technologies (see here). The goal of the
research is to refine design and production of these technologies and to
reduce their cost. ORNL is developing containment and insulating
materials, fabrication processes for the air delivery tube and air
electrode, and an activated carbon to remove sulfur compounds from natural
gas. Although these technologies are being designed to work with the
Westinghouse fuel cell, they are compatible with other systems. more information on Oak Ridge National
Laboratory.
Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, Washington (PAFC, MCFC, and SOFC)
The Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory is a facility operated by Battelle Memorial Institute
primarily to provide research support for the Department of Energy. more information on Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory.
Plug Power,
L.L.C.
Plug Power, L.L.C., is
the largest proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell development company
in the United States. Their goal is to develop and manufacture affordable
fuel cell systems for both residential and automotive applications. In
1997, a Plug Power PEM fuel cell module was the first to successfully
convert gasoline to electricity. Recently, Plug Power unveiled its
proprietary Plug Power 7000, a prototype residential power generation
system, with a first-time demonstration of a fuel cell able to provide a
home's complete electrical needs. Commercial production of this system is
planned for the year 2000. more
information on Plug Power, L.L.C.
Princeton University, New
Jersey
The home
page of the Center for Energy & Environmental Studies at Princeton
University (CEES) contains links to publications and research interests of
individual faculty and graduate students. A Progress Report of the Energy
Technology Assessment/Energy Policy Analysis Group provides synopses of
research at CEES from October 1, 1995, to September 30, 1997. It includes
sections on “Modeling of fuel cell vehicles and production of H2 or
H2-rich fuels for fuel cell vehicles” and “Hydrogen Transportation
Technology Assessments.” Also available at a nominal cost are several
Center Reports on technologies designed to solve particular fuel cell
problems. more information on
Princeton University.
Proton Energy
Systems
Located in Rocky Hill, CT, Proton Energy Systems, Inc.,
founded in 1996, is dedicated to the manufacture of cost effective Proton
Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen products using state-of-the-art
engineering and manufacturing processes. Two main focuses include the
development of industrial hydrogen generators (electrolyzers) and two-way
fuel cells. Proton's HOGEN hydrogen generators make high purity, process
pressure hydrogen from water and electricity for diverse uses in industry,
homes, and the military. Proton's UNIGEN fuel cell systems have the
potential to capture, store and release electrical energy more cost
effectively and efficiently than batteries or other alternatives. more information on Proton Energy
Systems.
Rocky Mountain Institute,
Colorado
The Rocky Mountain
Institute is a nonprofit research and educational foundation that seeks to
foster efficient and sustainable resource use, working within the
parameters of market economics. RMI’s research interests include
environmentally friendly energy sources, a fuel cell-powered “hypercar,”
and “green” construction design. The article discussing the hypercar (see
here ) is
a visionary exposition by RMI's Research Director Amory Lovins. It
represents the RMI’s hopes for geometrically increasing (“leapfrogging”)
benefits to accrue to vehicle owners and the environment through use of
this technology. more information on Rocky
Mountain Institute.
Sandia National Labs, New
Mexico
Sandia is a national
security laboratory that supports the Department of Energy. In addition to
responding to national security threats and developing the non-nuclear
parts of nuclear weapons, Sandia performs energy research and development.
DOE has a special agency, the Russian/American Fuel Cell Consortium
(RAFCO), which fosters nuclear non-proliferation and cooperative
development of fuel cell technology (see here ).
The RAFCO site describes the consortium’s eight current funded fuel cell
projects, which focus on such applications as sealants and the mechanical
properties of the electrolyte (see here ).
The site also maintains a calendar of events, information on upcoming
projects, and a directory of consortium members. more information on Sandia National
Labs.
Siemens AG, Germany
Siemens is a German electrical
engineering and electronics company with branches worldwide; its services
include plant design, consulting, and various kinds of electronic
products, among many others. Its energy research and development includes
fossil fuel power, hydroelectric power, nuclear power, and fuel cells.
Detailed information about Siemens’ work in fuel cells is not yet
available. more information on Siemens
AG, Germany.
Small-Scale Fuel Cell
Commercialization Group, Oklahoma
The Small-Scale Fuel Cell
Commercialization Group promotes marketable fuel cells in three
small-scale environments: residential, small commercial and small
industrial settings. The site concentrates on the economics involved in
operating and producing fuel cells powered by different fuels. The SFCCG
evaluates natural gas, propane, and methanol according to a number of
variables coordinated for cost and output of the service. In addition, the
site presents a paper and minutes from a conference for bidders for
commercialization of a residential system. more information on Small-Scale Fuel Cell
Commercialization Group.
Southern California Gas
The Southern California Gas
Company presents information for both residential and commercial customers
and also operates the Energy Resource Center, a showcase for commercial,
environmentally friendly designs, materials, and equipment. The ERC is
organized into rooms that specialize in different energy functions. One
room, the Compaq Center, is outfitted with 23 computers that allow
commercial customers to perform computer simulations and evaluations of
energy-related designs. The ERC also includes Air Quality, Residential,
and Food Service rooms. more
information on Southern California Gas.
Toyota Motor Corporation,
Japan
Toyota
was one of two manufacturers who had developed a prototype of a fuel
cell-powered vehicle by the summer of 1997. One of the central problems
for fuel cell-powered vehicles is size: the need for a fuel cell compact
enough to fit in the body of a normal-sized car. Toyota has developed a
fuel cell that is roughly the size of a conventional gasoline engine. A
second challenge is to safely supply hydrogen to the fuel cell; in
response, Toyota has developed an alloy that holds 250 ccs of hydrogen per
gram. In addition, to complement the environmentally benign effects of
fuel cells, Toyota has developed an experimental stand of trees that grows
thicker and faster, thereby increasing their capacity to filter pollutants
and absorb carbon dioxide. more
information on Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan .
University of California,
Riverside
The College of
Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology at UC
Riverside coordinates cooperative research on the environment among
academia, the regulatory community, and industry, concentrating its
research on air pollution. The Renewable Energy and Fuels group is working
on three primary fuel areas: the production and evaluation of hydrogen
fuel, solar energy, and renewable alcohol fuels. In addition, its Advanced
Vehicle Engineering group is conducting research on fuel cells, among
various other vehicle power sources. In one project, the diesel fuel used
to power the Army’s vehicles is being reengineered so that hydrogen can be
derived from it and used with fuel cells. Another project has been
developing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle, which has evolved from an
early golf-cart model to a full-sized model based on a Ford Ranger. The
Advanced Vehicle Engineering group also is working on electric power and
other alternative vehicle fuels. more
information on University of California, Riverside.
University of California,
Davis, Institute for Transportation Studies
UC Davis’s Institute
for Transportation Studies performs multidisciplinary research on a
variety of transportation issues, with current focuses on advanced
technologies, energy and environmental aspects of transportation, and
travel behavior. Included in ITS’s work on hybrid and electric-drive
vehicles (see here ) is
testing and design of fuel cells, storage batteries, and ultracapacitors,
which is conducted at the Electric Vehicle Power Systems Laboratory. A
central feature of the program is its solicitation of both engineers and
social scientists to collaborate in research. One study, Fuel Cell Cathode
Performance Analysis, has discovered that precise control of temperature,
humidity, and water management is needed to improve fuel cell design.
Another project has devised an enzyme catalyst to resolve the power
density problems that result from using dioxygen as a fuel. more information on University of
California, Davis, Institute for Transportation Studies.
University of California,
Davis, R&D
This site is a
gopher that indexes a variety of pages at UC Davis’s Department of Applied
Science site. See the Research page here
for the categories of research performed at the Department’s two sites.
These areas include Plasma Science and Fusion Engineering, Microwave and
Millimeter Wave Technology, Computational Sciences, Laser Physics and
Nonlinear Optics, Digital Media and Photonics, and Material Science and
Condensed Matter Physics.more information on
University of California, Davis, R&D.
Warsitz Enterprises,
California
Warsitz
Enterprises is a commercial company that markets alternative energy
products, primarily small fuel cells and related products. The company’s
products range from an electric-powered scooter called the Zappy, to an
electric bicycle powered by a fuel cell, and a portable hydrogen fuel cell
power generator. Other fuel cells have capacities ranging from 10 to 130
watts. Warsitz even is manufacturing a small sports car powered by a
hydrogen fuel cell. more
information on Warsitz Enterprises.
Siemens Westinghouse
Power Corporation
Siemens
Westinghouse's Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) internally converts natural
gas or other fuels to carbon monoxide and hydrogen, without the need for
external heat or steam. Cells are built around a core of ceramic tubes to
increase thermal cycles, which perform reliably at their normal range of
between 1000 degrees C and room temperature. The cell functions at greater
than 70 percent efficiency and is environmentally benign. Siemens
Westinghouse expects the SOFC to be commercially viable soon. The site
provides links to the Science and Technology Center, the corporation's
technology transfer agency. more
information on Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
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