Siemens readies fuel cell as source of power

[jpak]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07066/767282-28.stm

Tidy, efficient electricity production will rule the world's energy future, and Siemens' solid oxide fuel cell is leading the way.

The Churchill company's fuel cell doesn't spew pollutants into the atmosphere, and what carbon dioxide it does produce can be captured and sequestered.

But, best of all, Siemens' system uses fossil fuels -- in particular, coal -- more efficiently than the coal-fired power plants lining the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Its fuel cell can reach 90-percent efficiency compared with 45 to 55 percent for existing power plants -- almost twice the power from each pound of fuel.

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If the technology were used in the Pittsburgh region, as many as 200 fuel-cell plants might be necessary. But each would be a small, unassuming structure that could blend into any neighborhood or community.

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[orwell]

1. 90% efficiency...

...is very impressive.

Coal is still a dirty mining business but at least the fuel cell seems far more efficient and far less polluting to generate the electricity.

[razzleberry]

11. completely misleading claim

30 percent electricity
60 percent lukewarm water.

no better than today's typical engine

[unpossibles]

2. every bit helps

I think to realize the switch to renewable resources, it makes sense to increase efficiency of the technology we already have as well.

[jpak]

5. These systems can use hydrogen produced from renewable electricity in the future

Distributed CHP fuel cells using fossil fuels eliminates the need for central station fossil-fired plants to produce electrcity and on-site fossil fuel furnaces to produce heat.

Add in a wind/PV farm, an electrolyzer and some ex-RR-car propane tanks (for hydrogen storage) and *viola* :evilgrin: you have a renewable power grid that provides heat and electricity on-demand 24/7/365...

[phantom power]

3. I have to call "Bullshit" on the CO2 sequestration claims...

This thing produces gaseous CO2 just like any other traditional combustion-based generator. Sequestering the CO2 from this cell presents exactly the same problems as sequestering CO2 from a coal-fired generator of 10 years ago, or 50 years ago.

[msongs]

4. fuel cells that use coaL?

"But, best of all, Siemens' system uses fossil fuels -- in particular, coal --..."

oh great now we have to shovel coal into our fuel cells :-)

[kestrel91316]

7. So what, if they're not combusting it per se?

[phantom power]

8. Because they're still turning fossil carbon into gaseous CO2. Like any other coal plant.

[kestrel91316]

6. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

When I read about things like this I feel a small ray of hope that we CAN lick this thing (global warming and peak oil) and have a future.

It is a big step in the right direction.

[eppur_se_muova]

9. "best of all, Siemens' system uses fossil fuels -- in particular, coal" GACK!!

Let's see it burn some AG WASTE!! Or some SOLID SEWAGE SLUDGE!! Or some WASTE WOOD!! Even if that wasn't in the original design, give it a try! DAYYAM!! Any one of those options could be CARBON-NEUTRAL, with proper planning and management.

[Dead_Parrot]

10. "can be captured and sequestered"

Wake me up when it's time to die.