ACAL Energy and its development partners have put the ground works in place to install the world's first FlowCath fuel cell technology system to be used in a practical application at Solvay Interox, Warrington site. ACAL Energy is a developer of fuel cell engines based on a platinum free cathode technology that will be a clean and economically sensible alternative to diesel and gasoline generators.
The field trial system is planned for installation in summer 2011, and will provide critical back-up power for an environmental remediation plant at Solvay's Warrington plant. The installation is designed to help ACAL Energy and its partners to understand exactly how a back-up power system powered by its FlowCath fuel cell engine power module will operate in a real application. The technology is expected significantly to reduce the balance of plant costs by eliminating the need for hydration, pressurization, separate cooling and other mechanical sub-systems commonly required when using conventional PEM fuel cells.
In the meantime, ACAL Energy is completing the low cost design and validation activity in its new laboratory testing facilities, with the support of partners including Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells, UPS Systems, the University of Southampton and the Manufacturing Engineering Centre at Cardiff University, which is essential to meet the cost and performance targets for a commercially viable system.
This is the latest stage of a project announced last year, and partly funded by the Technology Strategy Board. Progress on the project to date has been rapid and as a result, Solvay Interox took the opportunity over last summer to put in place the hydrogen fuel supply and infrastructure ready for installation of the back-up power unit.
"We're well on track for this important next stage", said Bob Longman, VP Engineering at ACAL Energy. "Our progress in the laboratory stages has exceeded our expectations and we are increasingly confident in the performance of the whole system."
Bob McDonald, engineering manager at Solvay Interox agrees: "We are looking forward to supporting the installation to supply back up power for the remediation plant, which for Solvay Interox is seen as an opportunity to assess the technology for its value as a cost effective, sustainable back up power source".