SECA FY 2010 accomplishmentsKey Program Accomplishments
SECA Industry Teams – Coal-Based Systems
SOFC Developers Achieve New Milestones in System Efficiency and Cost by Implementing the Next Generation of Thin Cell Technology.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. and its technology partner, Versa Power Systems, Inc. initiated the manufacturing of new SOFC technologies based on improved materials and thinner anode structures. The new generation of cells has demonstrated significant performance gains, an expanded range of operating temperature, and long-term stability as compared to the previous baseline technology. The cell manufacturing process is based on tape-casting, screen-printing, and co-firing processes that have been optimized to take advantage of the new materials and thin cell technology. Over 46 stacks have been fabricated and tested, with cell sizes up to 1,000 cm2 and cell counts up to 92 cells. A recent milestone in technology development was achieved by fabrication and testing of the first-of-a-kind >30 kW stack tower based on anode-supported planar cells. This significant achievement paves the road for future large-scale SOFC power stations and distributed generation systems. Utilizing the improved class of cell and stack technologies, a nominal 400 megawatt (MW) coal-based baseline system was developed. The system offers 58.7% electrical efficiency based on high heating value of coal while capturing more than 99% of carbon in the syngas as carbon dioxide. The baseline SOFC system consumes 75% less water compared to pulverized coal combustion plants using scrubbing technologies for carbon capture and has a footprint comparable to integrated gasification combined cycle plants. The recent factory equipment cost estimates have shown an SOFC power island cost of $414/kW in 2002 dollars, approaching the DOE cost target for a coal-based system.
https://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/coalpower/fuelcells/publications/2010%20Fuel%20Cells%20Annual%20Report%20Introduction.pdf