the research consultancy for energy technologies

Search results for: โ€œ\"solid oxide fuel\"โ€

  • Bloom Energy: solid oxide fuel cell technology?

    Bloom Energy: solid oxide fuel cell technology?

    This data-file reviews Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell technology. What surprised us most was a candid overview of degradation pathways of solid oxide fuel cells, a focus on improving the longevity of fuel cells, albeit this sometimes seems to be via heavy uses of Rare Earth metals, and increasing complexity. The patents do suggest…

    Read more

  • Solid oxide fuel cells: what challenges?

    Solid oxide fuel cells: what challenges?

    This data-file reviews fifty patents into solid oxide fuel cells, filed by leading companies in 2020. The key focus areas are improving the longevity and efficiency of SOFCs. But unfortunately, we find many of the proposed solutions are likely to increase end costs. Potential is interesting, but deflation may take longer.

    Read more

  • Fuel cells: performance, efficiency and decline rates?

    Fuel cells: performance, efficiency and decline rates?

    This data-file captures the performance of c160 fuel cell power plants, installed to-date in the US, generating over 2TWH of electricity, looking facility-by-facility, year-by-year. How has the performance, efficiency and longevity of US fuel cell power plants been trending over time?

    Read more

  • Fuel Cell Patents: twenty years of progress?

    Fuel Cell Patents: twenty years of progress?

    This data-file tabulates the numbers of patents filed into different types of fuel-cells, from 2000-2020, globally and in key geographies: China, Japan, Korea and the US. Research activity peaked in 2008 and has since fallen by 30%. Japanese research has collapsed, while China’s has ascended.

    Read more

  • Cool concept: absorption chillers, data-centers, fuel cells?!

    Cool concept: absorption chillers, data-centers, fuel cells?!

    Absorption chillers perform the thermodynamic alchemy of converting waste heat into coolness. Interestingly, their use with solid oxide fuel cells may have some of the lowest costs and CO2 for powering and cooling AI data-centers. This 14-page report explores the opportunity, costs and challenges.

    Read more

  • Gas turbines: operating parameters?

    Gas turbines: operating parameters?

    A typical simple-cycle gas turbine is sized at 200MW, and achieves 38% efficiency, as super-heated gases at 1,250ยบC temperature and 100-bar pressure expand to drive a turbine. The exhaust gas is still at about 600ยบC. In a combined cycle gas plant, this heat can be used to produce steam that drives an additional turbine, adding…

    Read more

  • Gas generation: what kind of bear is best?

    Gas generation: what kind of bear is best?

    This 17-page report compares combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs), heavy-duty gas turbines, aeroderivative gas turbines, reciprocating engines and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), on ten dimensions. No one gas generation technology is best. But modular solutions may increasingly rival CCGTs, especially for energizing AI data-centers?

    Read more

  • Carbon capture and storage: research conclusions?

    Carbon capture and storage: research conclusions?

    Carbon capture and storage (CCS) prevents CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Options include the amine process, blue hydrogen, novel combustion technologies and cutting edge sorbents and membranes. Total CCS costs range from $80-130/ton, while blue value chains seem to be accelerating rapidly in the US. This article summarizes the top conclusions from our carbon capture…

    Read more

  • Absorption chillers: the economics?

    Absorption chillers: the economics?

    Absorption chillers perform the thermodynamic alchemy of converting waste heat into coolness. Capex costs of absorption chillers average $600/kW-th and all-in absorption chiller costs run to 6-7 cents/ton-hour, depending on the price of incoming waste heat. This data-file captures the economics of absorption chillers from first principles.

    Read more

Content by Category