Cost-effective Application of Stationary Fuel Cell Technologies

• Published in: Energy engineering Vol. 96; no. 6; pp. 46 - 62
• Main Author: Brown, Daryl R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lilburn, GA Taylor & Francis Group 01.01.1999; Energy engineering; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION; Applied sciences; Boilers; Economic data; Electric energy; Energy; Energy economics; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; FUEL CELL POWER PLANTS; General, economic and professional studies; MILITARY FACILITIES; ON-SITE POWER GENERATION; TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT; USES; Energetic efficiency; Technology; Performance characteristic; Technicoeconomic study; Cost analysis; Performance; Fuel cell
• ISSN: 0199-8595; 1546-0118
• DOI: 10.1080/01998595.1999.10530480

Fuel cells have several features that make them attractive candidates for on-site power generation. Electric conversion efficiency is good, ranging around 40 percent; overall energy efficiency, including the recovery of steam and/or hot water, is about 80 percent. Air emissions are so low that fuel cells have received exemptions from the standard environmental permitting process in some locations. Fuel cells do not rely on size economies of scale to reduce cost or improve performance, and are currently being developed at sub-kW to multi-MW sizes, which covers practically every application of interest to an end user. Currently operating fuel cells have proven to be highly reliable. In addition, fuel cells are very quiet and produce premium power for servicing sensitive electric loads. This article presents energy managers with information that will help them determine whether fuel cells could be effectively implemented at their facilities now or in the future. Included are sections providing an introduction to fuel cell technology, presentations of current and projected fuel cell characteristics, descriptions of fuel cell applications, and identification of conditions for cost-effective fuel cell applications. Specific results are presented for 11 sites within the U.S. Army's Forces Command (FORSCOM), but the methodology and general results are applicable to all potential fuel cell users.