06 Electrical power supply and utilization (economics, policy, supplies, forecasts)

reviews the latest technical progress with this development and 03100619 Development of a 50 kW PAFC power generation
discusses the large potential market for stationary power generation system
using SOFCs with CO2 capturing capability. Yang, J. C. et al. Journal o[ Power Sources, 2002, 106, (1-2), 68-75.
LG-Caltex Oil Corp. developed a 50 kW phosphoric acid fuel ceils
03/00614 Reforming-type coal gasification electric power (PAFC) stack during 1994-1999. The aim of this study was the
generation plant and its operation method preparation of a 50 kW PAFC stack for the application of on-site
Hasegawa, T. and Sata, M. Jpn. Kokai Tokkyo Koho JP 2002 188,457 power generation system. To manufacture the large-size electrodes
(CI. F02C3/28), 5 Jul 2002, Appl. 2000/385,969, 19 Dec 2000. 15. (In (4225 cm2), automated manufacturing facilities were used. These
Japanese) facilities provided uniformity and reproducibility of manufacturing of
The plant includes a catalytic fuel reforming device, a coal gasification the electrodes. These electrodes showed high current density (400 mA/
device to generate coal gas, and gas turbine for power generation by cm 2 at 0.65 V) in the unit cell measurement. Only 3% of degradation of
coal gas. The method is carried out by supplying the gas fuel (e.g. coal cell voltage was observed in the unit cell test over the cumulative
gas from coal gasification) together with trace nitrogen oxide and air or operation of 6000 h. The 50 kW PAFC stack was composed of 109 unit
oxygen into the reforming device for decomposing the nitrogen oxides cells and 19 cooling plates. The 50 kW stack showed 85% of hydrogen
into nitrogen, and using a two-stage combustion method with fuel utilization rate and 40% of electrical efficiency (LHV). Uniform
excessive condition upstream the combustion chamber to eliminate the voltage distribution among cells (within 5%) was observed during
formation of nitrogen oxides during combustion in the combustion operation. LG-Caltex Oil Corp. is developing the prototype 50 kW
chamber. PAFC power generation system during the years 2000-2002. This
prototype will be composed of reformer, inverter, stack and control
systems. The prototype will be tested for the commercial application of
03/00615 Simulation of the direct methanol fuel cell I. on-site power generation. The long-term reliability and economic
Thermodynamic framework for a multi-component feasibility of the prototype will be analysed for commercial power
membrane generation.
Meyers, J. P. and Newman, J. Journal of the Electrochemical Society,
2002, 149, (6), A710-A717.
A theoretical framework that describes the equilibrium of species in a 03•00620 Distributed generation and distribution utilities
multi-component membrane is presented. This framework considers Strachan, N. and Dowlatabadi, H. Energy Policy', 2002, 30, (8), 649-
explicitly first-order non-idealities that describe the interactions 661.
between pairs of species in a multi-component membrane (e.g. Distributed (co)generation (DG) represents an alternative paradigm of
Nation). These binary interaction parameters are applicable to energy supply and the opportunity for significant COz emission
methanol and water uptake data for liquid methanol solutions. A reductions. This paper investigates the adoption of the DG technology
chemical model is combined with this framework to describe water of internal combustion (IC) engine cogeneration in the Netherlands
vapour by the membrane over entire range of relative humidity. The and U K from 1985-1998. This detailed comparison was motivated to
framework established here provides a means to describe the gradients understand why the Netherlands installed 20 times as many units and
in electrochemical potential for species in the membrane when 40 times as much DG capacity (per capita) compared to the UK. The
describing the driving forces for multi-component transport. primary finding of this study emphasizes the win-win partnerships
between DG adopters and utilities. While both governments promoted
03100616 Using advanced solid oxide fuel cells in zero DG as part of their COz reduction goals, only distribution utilities in
emission coal systems the Netherlands were primed to support greater DG penetration.
Kumar, R. and Krumpelt, M. Proceedings of the International Technical Crucially, Dutch utilities offered high electricity buy-back rates which
Conference on Coal Utilization & Fuel Systems, 2002, 1, (27), 614-617. enabled innovative utilization of DG. Flexible operation modes allowed
The perspectives of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) fired with coal are investment in larger units, benefiting from economies of scale due to
outlined, considering operating temperature, power density and costs. fixed components in maintenance costs, and extended DG use to the
Solid oxide fuel cells were driven with gaseous fuel, that had to be much larger set of sites with limited electricity base-loads. The win-win
achieved by the gasification of coal, and this process recommended partnerships between distribution utilities and DG adopters for cost
steps for the elimination of sulfur compounds and fly ash. The savings also facilitated improved management of the electricity
technical state-of-the-art of coal gasification plants in the rec- network. A final consequence was a virtuous circle of maintenance
ommended size, gas purification equipment and advanced materials cost reductions from geographic concentration of DG units, resulting
for solid oxide fuel cells is described. in improved returns and hence more DG unit sales.

03•00621 Electrical-generation scenarios for China

Kypreos, S. and Krakowshi, R. A. PSI-Bericht, 2002, (02-08), 1-174.
The programme CETP used both optimizing and simulation energy-
Economics, policy, supplies, forecasts economic-environmental (E 3) models to assess tradeoffs in the
electricity-generation sector for a range of fuel, transport, generation,
and distribution options. The CETP is composed of a range of
technical tasks or activities, including energy economics modelling
03/00617 Design and realization of a 300 W fuel cell (EEM, optimizations), electric sector simulation (ESS, simulations),
generator on an electric bicycle life cycle analyses (LCA, externalization) of energy systems, and multi-
Cardinali, L. et aL Journal o[Power Sources, 2002, 106, (1-2), 384-387. criteria decision analyses (MCDA, integration). The scope of CETP
At ENEA Casaccia Research Center (Rome, Italy) a 300 W N U V E R A is limited to one province (Shandong), to one economic sector
fuel cell stack has been utilized for the construction of a range extender (electricity), and to one energy sector (electricity). This document
generator on a commercial electric bicycle. The generator is fully describes the methods, approaches, limitations, sample results, and
automated with a programmable logic controller (PLC) safely operat- future/needed work for the EEM (optimization-based modelling) task
ing start-up, shut-down and emergencies; a volumetric compressor that supports the overall goal of CETP. An important tool used by the
supplies air to the cathode, a dc/dc converter transfers energy from the EEM task is based on a Linear Programming (LP) optimization model
stack to the battery. All ancillary equipment is commercial; only the cell that considers 17 electricity-generation technologies utilizing 14 fuel
voltage sensors have been developed in order to obtain miniaturized forms (type, composition, source) in a seven-region transportation
and low consumption components. With this generator the bicycle model of China's electricity demand and supply system over the period
nominal range of 25 km (utilizing only the Ni-Mh battery) is extended 2000-2030; Shandong is one of the seven regions modelled. The China
to over 120 km, by installing a 200 bar, 5 1 bottle of hydrogen. Regional Electricity Trade Model (CRETM) is used to examine a set of
energy-environment-economy E3-driven scenarios to quantify related
03/00618 Desulfurization characteristics of zinc ferrite and policy implications. The development of electricity production mixes
related sorbents for hot gas cleanup technology that are optimized under realistically E 2 constraints is detected through
lshimori, M. and Katsuta, M. Proceedings - Annual International regional demands for electricity that respond to exogenous assump-
Pittsburgh Coal Conference, 2002, (18), 1770-1775. tions on income (GDP) and electricity prices through respectively time-
In Japan, the technical development of advanced power generation dependent elasticities. Constraints are applied to fuel prices, trans-
systems is intensively promoted. The authors have studied the portation limits, resource availability, introduction (penetration) rates
characteristics of zinc ferrite and related compounds in the light of of specific technology, and (where applicable) to local, regional, and
sorbents for hot-gas desulfurization to realize a highly efficient countrywide emission rates of COz, SO2 and NOx. Importantly, future
integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC). It was found that interregional energy flows are optimized with respect to choices of
concentration of H2S involved in the reductive gas was decreased from either transporting fuel (i.e. road, rail, ship) or electricity (wire).
1000 ppmv to <1 ppmv by use of zinc ferrite and related sorbents. The Results from CRETM are expressed in terms of scenario-based 'visions
environmental characteristics of the advanced IGCC technologies are of the future'. The scenarios considered in this ESS component of the
discussed in terms of the power generation processes and their,thermal CETP study are referenced to this base line and divide according to
efficiencies. whether the driving attributes derive from economic policy (e.g.

84 Fuel and Energy Abstracts March 2003