Finding Solutions to the Fuel Cell Dilemma Rotary Club of McLean 30 September 2014 Noriko Hikosaka Behling Slide 1 Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling
First Fuel Cell Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling2 Sir William Robert Grove, (11 July 1811 – 1 August 1896) was a Welsh judge and physical scientist. He invented the first fuel cell in Grove's 1839 gas voltaic battery diagram
What are Fuel Cells? Fuel cells are similar to batteries, but with a small difference. A battery converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy. A fuel cell converts chemical energy that is supplied from outside. Fuel cells are more efficient than other power sources. They convert energy directly to electrical energy in a single step. Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling3
What are Fuel Cells? (2) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling4
What are Fuel Cells? (3) Fuel Cell ClassMost Common Applications Common Electrolyte Typical Operating Temperature Efficiency Alkaline (AFC)Military SpacePotassium hydroxide soaked in a matrix 200°F 93°C 60% on H 2 Phosphoric Acid (PAFC) Electric utility power Distributed generation Phosphoric acid350°F 176°C 40% on natural gas Molten Carbonate (MCFC) Electric utility power Distributed generation Solution of lithium, sodium, and/or potassium carbonates 1200°F 649°C 50% on natural gas Solid Oxide (SOFC) Auxiliary power Distributed generation Yttria stabilized zirconia °F °C 60% on natural gas Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) Transportation Specialty vehicles Portable power Distributed generation Perfluoro sulfonic acid ° F °C 60% for vehicles 35% stationary on H 2 Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling5
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Budget — Japan: Largest in the World (1) — FY2014 BudgetFY2014 Budget $31.9 million$31.9 million $13 million$13 million $32.5 million$32.5 million $72 million$72 million $200 million$200 million $349.4 million$349.4 million 6Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling — Europe: Second largest (2)—
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Budget (2) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling7
Global Patent Overview Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling8 Top 10 Fuel Cell Patent Assignees by Country CEPGI data
Fuel Cell Commercialization Copyright 2013 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling9
Fuel Cell Commercialization (2) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling10 Toyota Fuel Cell CarHonda Fuel Cell Car Hyundai Fuel Cell Car
Fuel Cell Commercialization (3) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling 11 Japanese residential combined heat and power deployment, Total = 93,322 units (June 2014), Planned to install 5.3 million units by 2030 Data from Advanced Cogeneration and Energy Utilization Center Japan A.C.E.J, コジェネ財団, as of June 2014
Fuel Cell Commercialization (4) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling12 FuelCell Energy - Cumulative global total 379.2MW, of which 269.2MW or 70% to South Korea; In July 2014, POSCO announced independent production. Bloom Energy installed 522 units, MW SOFC systems primarily in California (as of Dec 2013) Bloom installed a 200kW Bloom box in Japan in Nov 2013 Bloom Energy installed 522 units, MW SOFC systems primarily in California (as of Dec 2013) Bloom installed a 200kW Bloom box in Japan in Nov 2013 UTC Power sold its fuel cell division to ClearEdge Power in ClearEdge filed Chapter 11 in April 2014 and sold its assets to Doosan Ltd of South Korea in July 2014
Fuel Cell Commercialization (5) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling13 Plug powerBallard (Canada) HydrogenicsFuelCell Energy
Summary of Making Fuel Cells Work 1 After decades of public and private efforts, almost no fuel cell products are commercially competitive with conventional counterparts, without subsidies and tax credits. Major impediments to commercialization include high cost, insufficient longevity, reliability and efficiency. New approaches are needed to understand complexities of fuel cell operations at the atomic level and develop solutions. Thus, I have proposed a National Academies study on fuel cells to find solutions to these challenges and show a new path to breakthroughs. Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling14 1 Noriko Behling, published in National Academies Journal, Issues in Science and Technology, Spring 2013
1.Assess research advances and technological opportunities for fuel cells that would greatly improve capability to support commercial and defense needs 2.Define a roadmap to discover and characterize fuel cell electrochemical processes and operations, including: – A theoretical understanding and empirical validation of underlying causes that drive performance shortfalls; – Transformational technologies that enable creation of revolutionary fuel cell types – Simulators and models to be developed to depict fuel cell operations – Potential game-changing applications 3. Outline a feasible plan for how these goals would be achieved: – Developing fuel cell systems with high power density and high efficiency reformers – Systems or technologies that readily scale to high power applications – Fuel cell systems that can operate with fuel impurities (e.g., Sulfur, CO). – Order of magnitude reductions in catalyst costs and improvements in durability – Required authorities, milestones, and funding levels 15 National Academies Study Statement of Task Study funding requirement: $600K Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling
Thank You for Listening! Noriko Hikosaka Behling (my website) Copyright 2014 by Noriko Hikosaka Behling16