Towering Fuel Cell

Not to be politically incorrect here, but filling up the replacement for the WTC with a bunch of Hydrogen seems like a bad idea.

Additionally, why would you want to use a fuel cell to power a building? The main advantage of fuel cells is that they can produce a fair amount of energy from a portable source, hydrogen. There is no reason a building needs anything to be portable. Unless they are getting the hydrogen as a byproduct of some local process it seems that it would be less efficient than just hooking up to the power lines. Maybe they are getting it from the outgassing of the sewers?

Electricity -> Hydrogen -> Transport Hydrogen -> Fuel Cell -> Electricity seems a lot less efficient than Electricity -> Transport via Wire -> Use Electricity.

I really want to encourage renewable energy and more environmentally accountable thinking, but fluff projects like these are not going to help.

If someone can help me understand the rational behind this approach please speak up. I want to believe this is a good decision, both for the building and the environment, but at first glance it just seems like a publicity project with no real benefit.

-Doug

There are many cases where Solid Oxide Fuel Cells are used for stationary power. As a matter of fact Central Park runs on such a system. I am not talking about the future I am mean right now. SOFCs run at high temperatures because the gas diffusion layer is a ceramic much like that used for oxygen sensors in car exhausts. It does not operate under 600°F. A hydrogen fuel cell operates around 80°F. At these elevated temperatures the hydrogen can be reformed from natural gas or even diesel fuel. The reformation process is simple, just burn it. Seems odd to burn fuel to make hydrogen to make electricity, but they do it and the efficiency is better than burning fuel to make mechanical power to turn a generator to convert to electrical power. BMW had a plan and I am not sure if they went through with it yet, but they wanted to add a small solid oxide fuel cell to their high end luxury car to help power all the garbage electronics like refrigerators.

You assumptions are not correct; the fuel cells operate on regular natural gas. Any H2 required is produced internally in the fuel cell power plant. There is no H2 transported to the site

Jasper 63

Ok, now that makes more sense. If they are using natral gas that is already available then it could actually be a reasonable project.

Thanks for the correction.

-Doug

Actually, this type of system is used in 3 ways.

1: CH4 conversion direct conversion to electical engery

2: Waste heat will be enough to heat the building and most other structures within a short distance.

3: Collection and use of the hydrogen produced in the process. The hydrogen is then pumped to your hydrogen fuel cell car.

OH shoot, the is the system that is being developed in Japan.

The systems are really focused at single familly housing. Heat, power, and hydrogren for your car. But, do not expect them ever to be allowed in this country. The power companies have already placed a req lock on such systems.

A few quick questions;

In the conversion from CH4 to electricity, where does the carbon go? Is it sequestered somehow or is it released into the air as CO2?

How are they using hydrogen generated from the system? I thought that the output was H2O. Fresh drinking water is great, but it won't run a car. (Scams aside)

I like the idea of using the waste heat, either as building heat or power co-generation. In the summer in NYC the last thing you want is extra heat in the building.

Thanks,

Doug