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https://energy.gov/search/site/seca
https://energy.gov/search/site/seca?page=1
'https://energy.gov/fe/articles/seca-fuel-cell-program-moves-two-key-projects-next-phase
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https://energy.gov/search/site/seca
https://energy.gov/search/site/seca?page=1
'https://energy.gov/fe/articles/seca-fuel-cell-program-moves-two-key-projects-next-phase
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Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected two projects for continuation within the Department's Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Program research portfolio. The projects--led by FuelCell Energy, in partnership with VersaPower Systems, and Siemens Energy--have successfully demonstrated solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) designed for aggregation and use in coal-fueled central power generation. Further development of these low-cost, near-zero emission fuel cell systems will substantially contribute to solving the Nation's energy security, climate, and water challenges.
The selections were based upon an assessment of demonstrated progress in developing high-performance, low-cost SOFC technology. FuelCell Energy is testing two ~10 kilowatt SOFC stacks incorporating planar cells; each has surpassed 4,700 hours of operation to date. Similarly, Siemens is testing a ~10 kilowatt SOFC stack incorporating its new higher power Delta cells, with 2,500 hours of operation to date. With the continuation, these projects will pursue cell materials and design development to further improve performance, reduce cost, and integrate the cells into larger stacks for evaluation and incorporation into larger demonstrations beginning in 2012.
From an environmental perspective, fuel cells are one of the most attractive technologies for generating electricity. SOFCs operate by separating oxygen from air and transferring it across a solid electrolyte membrane, where it reacts with a fuel--such as synthesis gas derived from coal, biofuels, or natural gas--to produce steam and carbon dioxide (CO2). Condensing the steam results in a pure stream of CO2 gas, which can be readily captured for storage or other use in a central location. This feature, coupled with very high efficiencies and the fact that fuel cells operate more efficiently at lower temperatures than combustion-based technologies, results in near-zero emissions. In addition, eliminating the need for steam bottoming cycles, and the ability to keep fuel and air streams separate, significantly reduce water withdrawal.
To realize the intrinsic advantages of SOFCs requires achievement of SECA's cost reduction goals. Projects in the SECA portfolio are conducting research and technology development to lower costs and improve reliability, ultimately culminating in the demonstration of fuel cell technologies that can support power generation systems as large as several hundred megawatts capacity. Key program goals, as defined by the Office of Fossil Energy and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, include:
- Cost of $175 per kilowatt (2007 dollars) for a minimum 40,000 hour fuel cell stack.
- Cost of $700 per kilowatt (2007 dollars) for an integrated fuel cell power block.
- Maintaining high power density in the large cells necessary for economic manufacturing.
SECA was established by DOE's Office of Fossil Energy in 2000 to research and develop low-cost, modular, fuel-flexible SOFC systems by 2010. In early 2005, the SECA program was accelerated to deliver megawatt-class fuel cell systems in response to the emerging national need for low-cost carbon capture technologies, near-zero emissions, and the need to reduce water withdrawal in power plants. Demonstrations are planned for 2012, 2015 and 2020:
- 2012--Multiple 1‑megawatt systems to demonstrate 5-year life by 2017.
- 2015--Multiple 5‑megawatt systems to demonstrate system integration with heat recovery turbines, power electronics, and other system level features by 2017.
- 2020--Full scale 250-500 megawatt integrated gasification fuel cell plant as part of DOE's Near-Zero Emissions Coal-Based Electricity Demonstration Program.
DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) manages the SECA program and its projects.
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Washington, D.C. - Seven projects that will help develop low-cost solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology for environmentally responsible central power generation from the Nation’s abundant fossil energy resources have been selected for further research by the Department of Energy (DOE).
The projects, managed by the Office of Fossil Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), are valued at a total of $4,391,570, with DOE contributing $3,499,250 and the remaining cost provided by the recipients. Four of the selected projects will pursue advances in cathode performance, enabling higher efficiency, lower cost systems. Three projects will study the stability and durability of cathode materials when exposed to varying levels of humidity and contaminants expected in commercial deployment.
The projects will develop solutions to current technical challenges consistent with the aggressive cost, reliability and endurance goals of the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA). The ultimate goal is the generation of efficient, cost-competitive electricity from domestic coal with near-zero emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants. The projects include:
Topic Area 1: Electrochemical Performance Enhancement Activity
- Boston University (Boston, Mass.)--The project aims to demonstrate a 50% improvement in maximum power densities of cells compared to baseline cells employing state-of-the art materials. The project plans to employ newer cathode and electrocatalyst materials and a variety of experimental and computational tools to achieve these goals. (DOE share: $499,999; Recipient share: $132,355; duration: 24 months)
- Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.)--This project is focused primarily on evaluating heterostructured cathodes comprised of two conventional electrode materials (one exhibiting high oxygen reduction activity and the other high bulk conductivities). The project aims to dramatically improve the cathode activity by directly modifying the chemistry and structure of the nanoscale oxygen reduction active surface sites. (DOE share: $500,000; Recipient share: $125,000; duration: 36 months)
- University of Wisconsin (Madison, Wis.)--This project is to develop perovskite-based SOFC cathodes with enhanced oxygen reduction activity. Completion of this project could enable higher power density SOFC operation at lower temperatures, reducing SOFC degradation and cost. (DOE share: $499,926; Recipient share: $125,236; duration: 36 months) West Virginia University (Morgantown, W.Va.)--The goal of this project is aimed at development of highly active and stable intermediate temperature SOFC cathodes. (DOE share: $499,953; Recipient share: $134,886; duration: 36 months)
Topic Area 2: Durability of Cathode Materials
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation (Atlanta, Ga.)--This project aims at establishing the scientific basis for rational design of new materials and electrode structures to mitigate the stability issues caused by the contaminants (humidity, CO2, chrome, and contaminants from other cell components) commonly encountered under realistic SOFC conditions. (DOE share: $500,000; Recipient share: $125,000; duration: 36 months)
- University of Connecticut (Storrs, Conn.)--This project is focused on evaluation and analysis of degradation phenomena in lanthanum manganite-based cathode electrodes when exposed to "real-world" air atmosphere conditions during SOFC systems operation by both experimentation and computational simulation. (DOE share: $499,372; Recipient share: $124,843; duration: 24 months)
- University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)--The objective of this project is to develop a cohesive and overarching theory that explains the microstructural and compositional cathode performance degradation mechanisms due to the mechanistic effects of moisture, CO2, Cr vapor, and particulates on cathode durability. (DOE share: $500,000; Recipient share: $125,000; duration: 36 months).
The SOFCs under development within SECA are ideal for use in central generation applications, enabling efficient and economical systems for up to 99 percent carbon capture. They also emit practically no pollutants (nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides) while consuming approximately one-third less water than other advanced power generation technologies. Power plants based on SECA fuel cells and coal gasifiers--units that turn solid coal into gaseous fuel--will generate power with overall efficiencies greater than 50 percent, compared to approximately 25 percent for traditional coal-fired power plants, including CO2 capture processes. Furthermore, SECA fuel cell technology is inherently fuel-flexible and modular, making them suitable to a wide variety of power generation applications.
Founded in 1999, SECA is a collaboration among the Federal government, private industry, academic institutions and national laboratories devoted to the development of low-cost SOFC technology. SECA is comprised of three groups: the Industry Teams, the Core Technology Program, and Federal government management. The Core Technology Program utilizes researchers in a wide variety of fields and disciplines to conduct applied research and development into cross-cutting technical issues encountered by the Industry Teams. Specific emphasis in this new work is placed on enhancing the reliability, robustness and endurance of SOFC stacks to commercially viable levels.
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