Diesel Fuel Cell?

[kodiak]

So I’m heading to the crapper and I grab a 45 year old Popular Mechanics Mag.
This looks a lot cheaper then a hydrogen cell so WTH!

[twistedsymphony]

cool!

searching I found this:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0905072008.htm

an old article from 2001... which provided the phrase "Solid Oxide Fuel Cell"

and of course Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid_oxide_fuel_cell

seems like the problem is the crazy amount of heat (800-1000 *F) required for operation... also it apparently needs an 8 hour warm up time...

but when combined with a gas turbine they can get upwards of 85% efficiency

[kodiak]

So it looks like GE buried this research 45 years ago.

[twistedsymphony]

maybe GE did but others haven't

from wikipedia:

Specifically, Delphi Automotive Systems and BMW are developing an SOFC that will power auxiliary units in automobiles. A high-temperature SOFC will generate all of the needed electricity to allow the engine to be smaller and more efficient. The SOFC would run on the same gasoline or diesel as the engine and would keep the air conditioning unit and other necessary electrical systems running while the engine shuts off when not needed (e.g., at a stop light).

Rolls-Royce is developing solid-oxide fuel cells produced by screen printing onto inexpensive ceramic materials. Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd is developing a SOFC gas turbine hybrid system fueled by natural gas for power generation applications on the order of a megawatt.[4]

Ceres Power Ltd. has developed a low cost and low temperature (500-600 degrees) SOFC stack using cerium gadolinium oxide (CGO) in place of current industry standard ceramic, yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ), which allows the use of stainless steel to support the ceramic.

Solid Cell Inc. has developed a unique, low cost cell architecture that combines properties of planar and tubular designs, along with a Cr-free cermet interconnect.

Advanced fuel cell research at institutes of higher learning is becoming more and more popular. The high temperature electrochemistry center (HITEC) at the University of Florida, Gainesville, led by Dr. E.D. Wachsman, is focused on studying ionic transport, electrocatalytic phenomena and microstructural characterization of ion conducting materials.

[WormGod]

So it looks like GE buried this research 45 years ago.

They were paid handsomely by Exxon to lock that tech in a vault until further notice.

[kodiak]

The oil companies wouldn’t do that.

They were paid handsomely by Exxon to lock that tech in a vault until further notice.

[newthings]

Here is a little conspiracy for you.

A man named Stanford Ovshinsky was always an odd presence in my semiconductor fabrication world in the 70’s through 2001. He kept in the news with strange switching devices using amorphous silicon rather than the single crystal devices we are all using. His methods and theories of operation were always wrapped in secreicy. He went to the universities and tried to hire top people. He landed some contracts and his devices were used in various government projects. He filed lots of patents. Sounds a bit like Tesla, doesn’t it. The claims of high speed and very low cost never took over the industry, but he was and is always there. I did not follow his work very closely until he pops up recently in the world of hydrogen powered cars and solar cells. Alan Alda interviewed him for the Discovery Channel. He is a wizened old man now. He demonstrated a tank full of Titanium chips which, when heated to about 400 degrees, would adsorb hydrogen or release it to fuel the engine.
He also worked on nickel metal hydride batteries. He developed ‘Large Cell’ batteries. GM used these in the EV-1 car and was a partner with Ovshinsky. GM seems to have owned the patent on the fabrication of these cells. When GM pulled the plug (Pun intended) on the EV-1 and lost interest in unconventional vehicle power, it sold the patents to—Guess Who?
STANDARD OIL!!

All hybrid vehicles using NiMH batteries are forced to use small cells, at some disadvantage, rather than pay Standard Oil a license fee.
Thanks GM. You’re always looking out for us, when you’re not stepping on your own dick.

Roy