BiobasedSolutionsNov2007a.pdf[2].html
12/03/2007 03:15 PM
Fuel Cells Convert Soybean Oil into Electricity
Finding alternative forms of
renewable energy is a priority
these days, and Technology
Management, Inc. (TMI), with
help from the Ohio Soybean
Council (OSC) and the soybean
checkoff, is looking at new
sources of electricity. One project
was a 1kW, farm scale fuel cell
system that created electricity
from soybean oil.
A fuel cell is like a battery that
runs on fuel and air. The battery
never runs out as long as you continue to provide fuel and air. The fuel
cell system from TMI mixes soybean oil with steam in a catalytic chamber
called a steam reformer. The steam reformer is heated by the hightemperature fuel cell exhaust and converts the soybean oil/ steam into
"syngas," a gaseous mixture primarily of hydrogen (H2), carbon monoxide
(CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The hydrogen and carbon monoxide in
the syngas react electrochemically with oxygen in the fuel cell stack to
produce water, heat and electricity.
"Our goal is to have the system run for many years like a major appliance
with minimum maintenance," says Benson Lee, president of TMI. "The
heart of the system is the fuel cell, which produces electricity as long as
fuel and air are provided. The target replacement life for the fuel cell is
over five years."
Because the features of fuel cells systems are so unique and different
from comparable devices, we envision end users finding entirely new ways
to use energy, says Lee. TMI's market entry system is a 1-kilowatt
modular system, designed to be used alone or as energy building blocks
for integration with conventional applications. In multiples they provide
more power and redundancy. In idle mode, they produce less power.
Because the system is scalable, other building blocks in different sizes are
anticipated as the market and new applications evolve.
"Wind, solar, hydro, wave action and even engines modified to operate on
biofuels cannot operate either continuously or indoors," says Lee. "Fuel
cell systems can provide clean energy anywhere and anytime electricity is
needed, as long as fuel is available. We expect to see exciting new
markets begin to take off."
The TMI system operates on both liquid and gaseous fuels and is
designed so one person can site, operate and maintain the system, with
no special tools, equipment, advanced training or parts inventory. A
complete system currently weighs less than 100 pounds with field-test
systems expected to be lighter and 40 percent smaller. For more power or
redundancy, systems can be connected in parallel and then unplugged for
maintenance, transport or to change fuels. This allows fuel backup or
simultaneous operation of systems, with each using a different fuel.
Next steps include designing systems for volume manufacture and
assembly, then producing a limited number of prototype systems for
intensive field testing. TMI is working through the product development
and commercialization steps. Given proper funding, TMI expects to beta
test product prototypes within two years, with first product introductions
within three years.
To learn more about OSC, visit www.soyohio.org/index_council.html. To
learn more about industrial uses for soy, visit www.soynewuses.org.
USB is made up of 64 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff
on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal
utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply.
As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA's
Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.
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