March 3, 2006—FuelCell Energy, Inc., says that its patented Direct FuelCell/Turbine (DFC/T) achieved a record-setting performance, establishing a mark of 56 percent electrical efficiency in the sub-megawatt (sub-MW) class for 800 continuous hours during initial testing. This significantly exceeds the electrical efficiency of other distributed generation technologies of similar size, according to the company.
By comparison, the company says, gas engines have an electrical efficiency of 30 to 42 percent, low-temperature fuel cells have an electrical efficiency of 30 to 35 percent, and microturbines have an electrical efficiency of 25 to 30 percent.
FuelCell Energy has been developing the DFC/T product following an initial Vision 21 Program contract award from the US Department of Energy (DOE) in 2000. Heat generated by the fuel cell is used to drive a modified unfired microturbine to generate additional electricity. The supplemental microturbine power increases the electrical efficiency and reduces the cost of power generated without using additional fuel. The combined-cycle DFC/T system has the same ultra-clean emissions profile of FuelCell Energy’s Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants.
FuelCell Energy is a world leader in the development and manufacture of high temperature hydrogen fuel cells for clean electric power generation. For more information, visit the Web site.
