Pierre, Joseph | Search NASA

DOE OSTI2016

Evaluation of the Market Potential for DG SOFC Systems at Military Installations

The Department of Defense (DoD) is a major consumer of energy in the United States (U.S.) and is responsible for nearly 80 percent of U.S. government energy consumption. The DoD facility energy consumption profile reflects the U.S. commercial sector with electricity and natural gas accounting for nearly 80 percent of the energy consumed. The high-efficiency Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems, which can support distributed generation (DG) and combined heat and power (CHP) applications, are well suited to support the DoD energy strategy and respond to the federal sustainability executive order. As a direct consequence of these policies, the DoD facility power sector was found to not only significantly supplement the early market opportunities for DG SOFC systems in the commercial sector, but also provide a significant longer-term market opportunity for commercial DG SOFC system developers. The DoD facilities power sector is capable of supporting the SOFC commercialization roadmap by providing increased production capacity that results in SOFC technology cost reduction. Apart from the expectation of typical readiness of commercially mature systems, there does not appear to be any significant issues that could hinder the market entry of SOFCs into the DoD facilities power sector. The expeditionary military bases, which are not considered in this report, provide yet another DoD market arena for DG SOFC systems.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

DOE OSTI2010

SECA Coal-Based Systems

This report documents the results of Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-05NT42613 between Siemens Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy for the period October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010. The Phase I POCD8R0 stack test was successfully completed as it operated for approximately 5,300 hrs and achieved all test objectives. The stack test article contained twenty-four 75 cm active length Delta8 scandia-stabilized zirconia cells. Maximum power was approximately 10 kWe and the SOFC generator demonstrated an availability factor of 85% at 50% power or greater. The Phase II POCD8R1 stack test operated for approximately 410 hrs before being aborted due to a sudden decrease in voltage accompanied by a rapid increase in temperature. The POCD8R1 test article contained forty-eight 100 cm active length Delta8 scandia-stabilized zirconia cells arranged in an array of six bundles, with each bundle containing eight cells. Cell development activities resulted in an approximate 100% improvement in cell power at 900Â°C. Cell manufacturing process improvements led to manufacturing yields of greater than 40% for the Delta8 cells. Delta8 cells with an active length of 100 cm were successfully manufactured as were cells with a seamless closed end. A pressurized cell test article was assembled, installed into the pressurized test facility and limited pressurized testing conducted. Open circuit voltage tests were performed at one and three atmospheres at 950Â°C were in agreement wi th the theoretical increase in the Nernst potential. Failed guard heaters precluded further testing. The SOFC analytical basis for the baseline system was validated with experimental data. Two system configurations that utilize a pressurized SOFC design with separated anode and cathode streams were analyzed. System efficiencies greater than 60% were predicted when integrating the separated anode and cathode stream module configuration with a high efficiency catalytic gasifier.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗