Solvay hails world's largest fuel cell of type in Flanders, one can power 1,400 homes
A street in Chatelet, Belgium. Chemicals giant Solvay hailed Monday the successful entry into service in Flanders of what it said was the largest fuel cell of its type in the world, a super-battery that produces enough electricity to power nearly 1,400 homes.
Chemicals giant Solvay hailed Monday the successful entry into service in Flanders of what it said was the largest fuel cell of its type in the world.
A super-battery that produces enough electricity to power nearly 1,400 homes, the Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell has been producing clean electricity at a "steady rate" for weeks at a SolVin plant part-owned by Germany's BASF in Antwerp, northern Dutch-speaking Belgium.
SolVin is a market leader in vinyl, or PVC production.
The fuel cell converts the chemical energy from hydrogen into clean electricity through an electrochemical reaction with oxygen, and "has generated over 500 MWh in about 800 hours of operation," Solvay said in a news release.
The company said this equates to the electricity consumption of 1,370 families over the same period.
Fuel-cell technology is tipped by developers as a future power solution for everything from cars to ships.
Flanders has benefited from a 14-million-euro investment in this applied technology, with the EU, the Dutch and the Belgian Flemish governments backers of Solvay's 5.0-million euros investment.
(c) 2012 AFP
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Feb 06, 2012
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Do "News of the World" or "Globe" writers moonlight here? I have grown to expect such drivel from MSM, but you guys are supposed to be better. By far.
Feb 06, 2012
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http://en.wikiped...y_Server
Feb 06, 2012
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Feb 06, 2012
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"An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy"
and
"An electrochemical cell is a device used for generating an electromotive force (voltage) and current from chemical reactions"
-Too bad bile doesnt generate a current... or does it?
Feb 06, 2012
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Feb 11, 2012
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Feb 11, 2012
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Your point? This sin't part of the issue being demonstrated by the fuel cell.
However with a fuel cell you have the opportunity to generate the hydrogen any way you wish (i.e. you at least have the opportunity to go green). This is far better than coal, oil or nuclear power plants where you don't even have the opportunity to go renewable.
With wind and solar sometimes being available in more abundance than needed the excess could well be used to generate hydrogen. So it's a net gain because otherwise you'd be throwing away 100% of that excess energy production.
Feb 11, 2012
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"If like the guy says, you lose 80% of your initial energy making hydrogen..." - Sonhouse