After more than 2,000 hours of operation of a 4 kWe SOFC unit, Topsoe Fuel Cell (TOFC) and Wärtsilä show operating results, which are in compliance with the technical targets of Solid Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) phase 1 minimum requirements.

TOFC has supplied the SOFC stacks, the fuel processing catalysts, and the catalytic burner and Wärtsilä has integrated these parts into the complete system including advanced power electronics. The system runs on natural gas directly from the Finnish natural gas grid and is equipped with a fuel processing system including Haldor Topsoe (TOFC’s parent company) desulphurisation and prereforming catalyst eliminating the risk of sulphur poisoning and carbon formation.

The SOFC system has already logged more than 2,000 hours of operation and has shown availability figures well in excess of the SECA target of 80%. Degradation has been in the magnitude of 1%/1,000h, below the SECA phase 1 minimum requirement of 2%/500h. The SOFC stacks are placed in two towers. This stack configuration implies high demands on the system control and power electronics. But after some initial troubleshooting, the towers have been running successfully with the same voltage.

“The successful operation of this 4 kWe test unit is an important milestone”, says Erkko Fontell, General Manager Fuel Cells at Wärtsilä. “With this great success, we enthusiastically work towards the next step; a WFC20 alpha prototype with a capacity of 20 kWe, which is scheduled to start up ultimo 2006.”

“This test has shown the advantages and reliability of our stack design,” adds Niels Christiansen, Technical Director (TOFC). “Based on the excellent results of the test, we have frozen our first generation stack design and soon we will initiate production in larger numbers of stacks based on this design.”

Solid oxide fuel cell technology is the most efficient fuel cell technology. Because of the relatively high operating temperature, it can run on a wide range of fuels such as natural gas, biogas, ethanol etc. The technology is foreseen to play an important role in electricity generation for private homes, in distributed generation and as auxiliary power units for heavy vehicles.

Topsoe Fuel Cell A/S is a fully owned subsidiary of Haldor Topsoe A/S. The company is dedicated to development, manufacturing and marketing of solid oxide fuel cells.

For more information, please visit our website www.topsoefuelcell.com or contact Mr. Helge Holm-Larsen, Director, Business Development (hhl@topsoe.dk, ph. +45 4527 2168, mobile ph. +45 2275 4168).

Wärtsilä enhances the business of its customers by providing them with complete lifecycle power solutions. When creating better and environmentally compatible technologies, Wärtsilä focuses on the marine and energy markets with products and solutions as well as services. Through innovative products and services, Wärtsilä sets out to be the most valued business partner of all its customers. This is achieved by the dedication of more than 12.000 professionals manning 130 Wärtsilä offices in over 60 countries around the world.

For more information, please visit our website www.wartsila.com or contact Mr. Erkko Fontell, General Manager, Fuel Cells (Erkko.fontell@wartsila.com, ph. +358 10 709 5228).

The Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) is a US alliance of industry groups who individually plan to commercialize SOFC systems for pre-defined markets; research and development institutions involved in solid-state development activities; and government organizations that provide funding and management for the program. The alliance is organised under the National Energy Technology Laboratory.