Analysis of Actual Operating Conditions of an Off-grid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

• Main Authors: Dennis Witmer, Thomas Johnson, Jack Schmid
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; ALASKA; EFFICIENCY; FUEL CELLS; GLACIERS; INTERNET; PROPANE; PUBLIC BUILDINGS; SEASONS; SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS; VERIFICATION; glacier; glaciers; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/963358; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/963358; https://doi.org/10.2172/963358

Fuel cells have been proposed as ideal replacements for other technologies in remote locations such as Rural Alaska. A number of suppliers have developed systems that might be applicable in these locations, but there are several requirements that must be met before they can be deployed: they must be able to operate on portable fuels, and be able to operate with little operator assistance for long periods of time. This project was intended to demonstrate the operation of a 5 kW fuel cell on propane at a remote site (defined as one without access to grid power, internet, or cell phone, but on the road system). A fuel cell was purchased by the National Park Service for installation in their newly constructed visitor center at Exit Glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park. The DOE participation in this project as initially scoped was for independent verification of the operation of this demonstration. This project met with mixed success. The fuel cell has operated over 6 seasons at the facility with varying degrees of success, with one very good run of about 1049 hours late in the summer of 2006, but in general the operation has been below expectations. There have been numerous stack failures, the efficiency of electrical generation has been lower than expected, and the field support effort required has been far higher than expected. Based on the results to date, it appears that this technology has not developed to the point where demonstrations in off road sites are justified.