Application Areas and Relation to Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

12 Application Areas and Relation to Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells 

The other application which has been much studied is that of integration of SOFCs with coal gasification. An SOFC is eminently suited to integration with a coal gasifier plant in large power stations and should result in highest overall conversion compared to other fuel cell types. Unfortunately, the investment required to build such plants is large. 

Similar arguments apply to truck cabs which have to be heated. 

Smaller, portable SOFC power units which can replace batteries are also being considered. These can deliver power in the range from 20 We to 10 kWe and can run directly on a wide range of fuels from natural gas, to propane, methanol and isooctane. If the cells are small to avoid thermal shock, then the start-up can be quick [45]. The other application for such units is in residential cogeneration using pipeline gas. Installing SOFCs in every home will cut residential carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50%. 

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