Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells
(OP)
Hello all,
Just an inquiry regarding the use of fuel cells in an interactive system as defined in the NEC. Has anyone had experience in the use of multiple unit parallel installation of fuel cells to provide on-site power production to reduce the utility demand? What are the advantages and disadvantages? In general was this a positive experience? A successful installation? Any major issues with the AHJ? We are looking into using these for a client whom has requested we investigate this technology and implement this if we deem it a viable option.
Has anyone studied this type of installation? Is there preference of one type over others? Do these systems provide any kind of return on investment that makes their use worthwile? Or is this still an emerging technology rendering any installations as merely demonstration projects?
Any input would be welcome. Thank you for your interest.
EEJaime
California, USA
Just an inquiry regarding the use of fuel cells in an interactive system as defined in the NEC. Has anyone had experience in the use of multiple unit parallel installation of fuel cells to provide on-site power production to reduce the utility demand? What are the advantages and disadvantages? In general was this a positive experience? A successful installation? Any major issues with the AHJ? We are looking into using these for a client whom has requested we investigate this technology and implement this if we deem it a viable option.
Has anyone studied this type of installation? Is there preference of one type over others? Do these systems provide any kind of return on investment that makes their use worthwile? Or is this still an emerging technology rendering any installations as merely demonstration projects?
Any input would be welcome. Thank you for your interest.
EEJaime
California, USA





RE: Fuel Cells
Here is a link with some info,
http://www.clearedgepower.com/news/new-technology-...
Hope that helps, Mike L.
RE: Fuel Cells
Thank you for the lead and link. That is the type of information I am looking for. We are working in the San Diego area as well, so I will follow up on that. I appreciate the information.
Have a good day,
EEJaime
RE: Fuel Cells
What are the advantages and disadvantages?
On site power production is pretty cool especially if you have a parasitic load. Disadvantages are meeting IEEE 1547 and what do you do if there is no load...the fuel cell will take up to 8 hours to restart, so I recommend a load bank sized at 90% with step loading to keep that bad boy rocking. Also depending on who you work with at SDG&E meeting their requirements can be pretty fun with an existing site. Not hard if you buy the right toys...
In general was this a positive experience?
Sure it was a positive experience - what isn't positive these days? The person who installed it did not pay attention to the grounding configuration of the 12kV system
A successful installation?
It worked...until utility went away and they also messed of the ground fault coordination for the entire campus.
Any major issues with the AHJ?
Nope. San Diego is super simple, SDG&E isn't bad at all either compared to other utilities. You can call them.
We are looking into using these for a client whom has requested we investigate this technology and implement this if we deem it a viable option.
Schnick?
RE: Fuel Cells
Frankly it was a stupid project overall, but a bunch of grant money to try and make "natural gas" at a time when NG prices are low and supplies pretty good, and no close in large user of gas made this seem not very smart. Had they taken just part of the money, cleaned up the gas better to the engines, added another engine with after-treatment, improved the utility service and wheeled the excess power to their other facilities, it would have been a much better solution. But it was "green" to install a fuel cell, one that barely covered the parasitic power requirements of the gas cleanup process. To way too many people, burning any kind of fuel in an engine, even fuel produced from sewage treatment, is BAD. so this project went forward.
I think fuel cells have a place in the overall power generation scheme, after the initial posting of this thread I got a chance to go over and talk with one the facilities engineers at the Sheraton, the fuel cells there seem to be well accepted and doing what was promised, provide electricity and hot water at an economical price with minimal problems.
But I've heard a number of horror stories from around the state, most involve what appeared to be a pretty good fuel cell design poorly interfaced into an existing system, sounds like living2learn found another. Too bad that some of these projects can't seem to get around poor integration.
My two cents worth, Mike L.
RE: Fuel Cells
Bill
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"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter
RE: Fuel Cells
Couldn't agree more!
Mike L.