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Keep up to dateTable 1: Fuel cell system characteristics and comparison with conventional generating systems | |||||||
Characterisitc | Fuel cell type | Conventional systems | |||||
Ìý | Proton exchange membrane – pemfc | Molten carbonate – mcfc | Solid oxide – sofc | Internal combustion engine – generator | Gas turbine | Steam turbine generator | |
Electrolyte | Sulphonic acid incorporated into a solid polymer membrane | Phosphoric acid | Molten lithium carbonate | A ceramic, solid oxide zirconia | – | – | – |
Applicable size range (kWe) | 1-250 | 100-1000 | 100-2000 | 1 -3000 | 25-5000 | 500-25 000 | 25-25 000 |
Projected commercial availability | 2004 | Available | 2006 | 2006 | Available | Available | Available |
Footprint (m²/kWe) | Ìý | Ìý | 0·056-0·372 | Ìý | 0·020- 0·029 | 0·002-0·057 | < 0·009 |
Electrical efficiency at full load (%) | 40 | 45 | 45-50 | 45-50 | 25-45 | 25 - 40 | 30 - 42 |
Electrical efficiency at half load (%) | 40 | 45 | 45 - 50 | 45 | 23-40 | 20 - 35 | 28 - 40 |
Heat output (% of input) | 40 | 35 | 30-45 | 35-45 | 35-45 | 40-55 | Low-grade |
Operating temperature (°C) | 50-90 | 200 | 650 | 800-1000 | 80-480 | 260-600 | Low-grade |
Start-up time | Seconds | Hours | Hours | > 30 minutes | Seconds | Minutes | Hours |
Target equipment life (years) | 5 (cell stack), 20 balance of plant | 5 (cell stack), 20 balance of plant | 3 (cell stack), 20 balance of plant | 5 (cell stack) 20 balance of plant | 4 - 20 | 30 | 30 |
Possible fuels (see note) | Hydrogen, natural gas, lpg, methanol, ethanol, gasoline, diesel | as pemfc plus landfill gas and biogas | as pafc and gasified coal | as pafc and gasified coal | as pemf | as pemfc and gasified coal | as pemfc and gasified coal and solid fuels |
NOx emissions (g/MWh) | Ìý | Ìý | <9 | Ìý | 998-1270 | 181-1814 | 816 |
Note: these represent sources of raw fuel which need to be processed (or reformed) to provide the fuel required to power the fuel cell, which is hydrogen in the case of pemfc and pafc and hydrogen or carbon monoxide for mcfc and sofc. |
Table 2: Cost comparison for stationary generation equipment | ||||||||
Period | Fuel cell type | Conventional systems | ||||||
Ìý | PEMFC | PAFC | MCFC | SOFC | Internal combustion engine – generator | Micro turbine – generator | Gas turbine | |
Capital costs (£/kW) 2003 | 2,600-6,500 | 2000-3400 | 2,000-5,000 | 5,000-10,000 | – | – | – | – |
Projected 2005 | 1,500 | 1,900 | 1,850 | 2,300 | 200 - 820 | 450 - 820 | 450 - 570 | 500 - 630 |
Projected 2010 | 700 | 1500 | 950 | 1100 | – | – | – | – |
Projected 2015 | 500 | 1300 | 700 | 750 | – | – | – | – |
Projected 2020 | 300 | 1100 | 550 | 550 | – | – | – | – |
Operating costs (£/kWh) 2003 | 0·04-0·06 | 0·08 | 0·04 - 0·08 | 0·05 | – | – | – | – |
Maintenance costs (£/kWh) projected 2006 (see note) | 0·003-0·01 | 0·003-0·01 | 0·003-0·01 | 0·003-0·01 | 0·005-0·01 | 0·002-0·06 | 0·002-0·005 | 0.003 |
Note: current maintenance costs for fuel cells are high due to the limited number of units and manufacturers in the marketplace, and possible issues concerning reliability. |
Table 3: Breakdown of typical project costs | |
Item | Ìý |
Fuel cell stack | £255,000 |
Fuel processor | £85,000 |
Plant | £113,600 |
Labour | £113,400 |
Total | £567,000 |
Delivery to site (outside USA) | £20,000 |
Installation costs (site and application dependent) | |
Standard (generation only) | £50,000 |
Non standard | £80,000 |
CHP (including project management, design, site preparation and additional plant) | £100,000-£200,000 |
Spares | 10% of capital cost |
Maintenance | £ 16,000 - £ 26,000 pa |
Fuel stack | Ìý |
Fuel stack replacement | £ 150,000 every 4 years |
Fuel stack refurbishment | £ 120,000 every 4 years |
Total (£/kW) | 3549-4415 (excluding stack replacement/refurbishment) |
Note: excludes inflation beyond second quarter 2003, incoming gas service, builders work in connection with services, main contractors overheads and profit and attendances, professional fees, vat. |
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