CFCL announces durability advances

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited today announces further significant advances in its development of more powerful and durable fuel cell modules for micro combined heat and power (mCHP) products. 

The advances will be outlined in papers to be presented at the 8th annual European
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Forum, taking place in Lucerne, Switzerland. The papers demonstrate Ceramic Fuel Cells' achievements in developing an advanced
anode supported fuel cell with power densities of 500 - 650 mW/cm2 at electrical
efficiency of more than 50%. 

Cell power density has increased by 50% in 12 months, from 350 mW/cm2 reported in
June 2007.  Importantly, these results have been achieved using widely available natural gas.  Ceramic Fuel Cells' products generate electricity from existing natural gas without the need for separate hydrogen infrastructure. 

Fuel cell stack lifetime has also continued to improve significantly.  Degradation
has reduced by 35% in only four months - from 1.53% / 1000 hours reported in
February 2008 to less than 1% / 1000 hours, when operating a 1kW stack in a test
station at 750oC on natural gas. 

These results have been achieved through advances made in cells, glass technology,
interconnect metals, protective coatings on metals and contact technology. Extensive testing has shown that Ceramic Fuel Cells' patented spinel coating is highly effective at increasing the lifetime of the stack by eliminating chromium emission from stainless steel, which can affect all solid oxide fuel cells. 

Ceramic Fuel Cells' testing has demonstrated electrical efficiencies of more than
66% for a mini fuel cell stack (three cells) and more than 50% for a complete 1kW
fuel cell stack running on widely available natural gas.  This is significantly
higher than current electricity generating technologies and other microgeneration
alternatives. 

These advanced components will be used in the mCHP products that Ceramic Fuel Cells
is developing with its appliance partners in Germany, France, the United Kingdom,
Holland and Japan. 

http://www.cfcl.com.au/

Source: Fuel Cell Today