News
Successful Delivery of First 1.4 kW Solid Acid Fuel Cell Stack by Norwegian-Californian Partnership
February 23, 2011 SAFCell, Inc. (Pasadena, CA) delivered this week a 1.4 kW solid acid fuel cell (SAFC) stack to Nordic Power Systems (NPS , Norway), exceeding the target performance and marking a major technical milestone in its 18-month development contract with NPS. In January 2010 SAFCell was contracted by the Norwegian system integrator to develop its patented SAFC stacks for incorporation into NPS’ diesel auxiliary power units (APUs). The SAFC stack will be integrated into NPS’ proprietary cool flame diesel reformer system, converting the chemical energy of the diesel fuel directly into clean electrical power and heat. Combining these two advanced technologies will result in lighter, quieter, less costly, and higher performing diesel fuel cell systems that NPS plans to market for both mobile and stationary auxiliary power applications. With support from the Norwegian Research Council the integration of these two technologies is proceeding rapidly. The SAFC stack demonstrated operability with both dilute hydrogen and reformate gas, with only a marginal difference in performance between the two fuel streams. The performance confirmed SAFC tolerances to high levels of impurities that “poison” and dramatically decrease the performance of lower temperature fuel cell technologies. “Hitting, and even exceeding, this technical milestone confirms that SAFCell’s stacks are scalable to the kilowatt level and can run on commercially available fuels such as diesel," stated SAFCell’s founder and CEO, Dr. Calum Chisholm. Moreover, SAFCell has "observed extremely high reliability in our stacks over the past year, and we believe that the technology is ready for commercialization in key initial markets,” said Dr. Chisholm. “We are very excited by the results demonstrated so far, especially as the power and performance is now at a level where it can be integrated into our APU,” said Dr. Dag Overbo, the Technology Director for Nordic Power Systems. He also stated that “incorporating SAFCell’s stacks could greatly simplify our overall system and lead to both weight and efficiency gains.” NPS develops efficient, environmentally friendly fuel cell power packs that enable nearly silent and emission-free power generation from commercially available fuels. NPS’ cool flame reformer innovation allows for onboard, on-demand diesel or biodiesel reforming in fuel cell systems, thus opening a variety of markets for fuel cell applications. As a preparation for commercial introduction of the power packs, NPS is currently delivering its first demonstrators to select partners. SAFCell, Inc. develops scalable solid acid fuel cell stacks for applications requiring tens of watts to tens of kilowatts. Based on technology developed at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and operating at mid-range temperatures around 250°C, SAFCell’s stacks tolerate fuel impurities that pose obstacles to other fuel cell technologies. This allows SAFCell stacks to run more easily on commercially available gas fuels (e.g., propane and butane) or liquid fuels (e.g., methanol, diesel and bio-oils), greatly reducing the overall fuel cell system complexity and cost. SAFCell is partnering with targeted system integrators to enter first portable, and then stationary power markets. ### Media Contacts: Dr. Calum Chisholm (USA) SAFCell, Inc, CEO +1.626.795.0029 x101 www.safcell-inc.com Tor-Geir Engebretsen (Norway) Nordic Power Systems, CEO + 47.90.15.80.40 www.nordicpowersystems.com Go to page»FIRST SUCCESSFUL TESTING OF TRULY SILENT DIESEL GENERATOR AT MARSHALL LAND SYSTEMS
Dec 6, 2010
PRESS RELEASE
FIRST SUCCESSFUL TESTING OF TRULY SILENT DIESEL GENERATOR AT MARSHALL
LAND SYSTEMS
Nordic Power Systems and Marshall Land Systems Move to Next Stage of Development of “Cool Flame” fuel systems in the UK
Cambridge, 06 December 2010; A new force in silent diesel power generation should be ready to be demonstrated to carefully selected potential end users by the spring of 2011 following work carried out by Marshall SDG, a Marshall Land Systems company, and Nordic Power Systems.
After initial work carried out in Norway on the early stage prototype generator, the system has been successfully tested at MLS and is now being further developed in both Norway and UK by a joint team from Marshall and Nordic Power. During this development work the team will focus on system optimisation, reducing the electronic emissions and ruggedisation of the system to ensure the “Cool Flame” will meet military requirements. This also includes work on the through life aspects and packaging of the “Cool Flame” to limit the footprint and weight of the generator and to increase its operational capability and uses.
Tor Geir Engebretsen, Chief Executive of Nordic Power Systems, commented: “The team has been working hard over the last months developing the generator to the stage where it can now provide a consistent power output. We are pleased with the successful independent tests carried out by our UK partner. The next stage of development will be an exciting one because at the end we plan to have a truly silent system that we can demonstrate.”
“Achieving this point in the development process of this novel silent diesel generator using fuel cell technology is a significant milestone and confirms our expectations that this is a very exciting technology which fits well into the Marshall Land Systems portfolio,” said Peter Callaghan, Chief Executive of Marshall Land Systems.
He added: “This milestone is confirmation of our commitment to provide the best innovative solutions we can for the armed forces and to meet our Offset obligations in Norway. Our work involves using MLS’ key attributes and provision of technical expertise to a company we quickly recognised as like minded and equally technically capable”
The diesel fuel generators are based on a patented technology, named “Cool Flame”. The silent generators are expected to produce power outputs suitable for driving a wide variety of electronic equipment and provide auxiliary power units where silent running is required.
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Note to Editors
About Nordic Power Systems
Nordic Power Systems (NPS) has developed a silent and clean power generator based on fuel cell technology. Emission friendly fuel cell power solutions are expected to play an important role in the future both for stationary and mobile markets. Examples of markets are stand alone power generators, power supply to trucks and yachts and range extender for plug in hybrids / electric vehicles. So far the introduction of fuel cells has had a relatively slow adaption, mainly because of hydrogen being used as fuel. The patented NPS technology is unique since it allows on board and on demand production of hydrogen from conventional fuels like diesel and bio oils, meaning fuel cells may be operated without any need for hydrogen supply chain and storage.
NPS is currently delivering its first prototypes to selected partners. The company is preparing to set up an assembly plant in Hoyanger, Norway in order to facilitate commercial introduction of the power generators.
Further information is available at www.nordicpowersystems.com
About Marshall Land Systems
Marshall Land Systems (MLS) is part of Marshall Group, a large (£750M) family owned independent group of companies involved in the automotive, aerospace and land systems areas. Headquartered in Cambridge UK, Marshall Group can trace its history back to 1909.
MLS specialises predominantly in defence vehicle and shelter design, manufacture, integration and product support. MLS has five major components, which design and produce shelters and specialist vehicles, manufacture vehicle load beds, a specialist design division which carries out UOR work, EOD, EMI, EMC, Safety Cases and Consultancy, a fleet solutions division dedicated to provision of whole fleet support and a 50:50 JV with Plasan to provide armouring solutions. MLS has recently established a new company in Norway, Marshall SV Norge, to support its work in the country. It has also established a company in Australia to support its expansion into the Asia pacific market.
Further information is available at www.marshall-ls.com
Recent Announcements
Marshall Land Systems provides load beds for Wolfhound
Marshall Land Systems and Thales Australia announce MoU on Vehicle Opportunities in Australia
Challenger Powerpack Run Up Trolley Upgraded by Marshall Land Systems
RAF to use Marshall Battery Charger Units
Deployable Machine Shops delivered ahead of schedule
New Force in Fuel Cell Power Generation Established by Marshall Land Systems and Nordic Power
Contacts:
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Tim Otter
Future Business Director
Marshall Land Systems
Tel +44 (0) 1223 373079
Mob+44 (0) 7748 090802
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Mark Broughton
Marontech Communications
Tel: +44 (0) 1428 647979
Mob: + 44 (0)7880 506345
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