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Priority
Projects for Development
Of the New and Renewable Energy in China
Fuel
Cells Technology
1.
Background
Fuel
cells belong to power generating plant, which
can converse the chemical energy stored in the
fuel or oxidant directly into electric energy.
It needs neither heat engine process, nor be limited
by Carnot cycle. The transformation rate of energy
is high. It has become a new type of power generating
technology that the developed countries compete
to research and develop. Now the global investment
on the development of fuel cells has reached 300
million US dollars per year.
Fuel
cells to be centralized developed in the world
are as follows:
1)
Phosphate
fuel cell (PAFC). America has completed on-the
spot experiment of the 12KW-200KW power generating
sets. The technology tended to be ripe and was
sold as a commodity. From 1981 to 1990, Japan
concentrated the research on PAFC and has completed
on time manufacturing of the 100KW PAFC power
generating system in 1988 and 200KW PAFC system
in 1990.
2)
Molten
carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) From 1987, the focus
of American fuel cells research has turned from
PAFC to high-temperature MCFC, and according to
its plan, the evaluation experiment should be
accomplished of 70KW, 120KW grades and MCFC galvanic
pile in 1992 to 1993. The first demonstration
power station (200KW) put into operation at the
end of 1994 and its products were sold in 1998.
Such kind of cells is also the research focus
by countries of the E.C with grand research plans.
3)
Solid
oxide fuel cell (SOFC)
4)
Polymer
electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC)
China
is one of the countries, which engaged in fuel
cells research in an early stage. As early as
in 1950s, some research institutes started research
in this aspect due to the need of space flight.
The research work was mainly centralized on alkaline
oxide-hydrogen fuel cells. In 1970s, Dalian Chemical
and physical Research Institute manufactured 10KW
and 20KW big-power fuel cells, which used hydrogen
as fuels through decomposing NH3. In the period
of the ¡°Seventh Five Year Plan¡±, China finished
the key task of manufacturing oxide-hydrogen cells
for underwater robots. At the beginning of the
¡°Eighth Five-year Plan¡±, it started the preliminary
research on ion-exchange membrane fuel cells and
MCFC. But so far, it is still a blank space in
the aspect of domestic power generating fuel cells
(PAFC, MCFC, SOFC). Only a few units once engaged
in exploration experiments.
2.
Objectives
Research
on fuel cells should be carried out on the basis
of the present research work and according to
the principle of combination of self-reliance
development with introduction. The focus must
be put on the manufacturing of the molten carbonate
fuel cells (MCFC) and strive to fulfill the task
of construction of some demonstration power stations
and products.
3.
Content
-
Phosphate
fuel cells (PAFC). Introduce and digest of
foreign technology and equipment to keep abreast
of technology on control system, structure,
and gas quality and control knowledge.
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Molten
carbonate fuel cells (MCFC). Focus of the
research. Demonstration generating plant should
be set up with a certain scale. Key technology
for research include: development of diaphragm,
manufacturing of catalysis electrodes, manufacturing
of double electrode diaphragm, on-line cycle
of CO2 and research on power station system
control technology
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Solid
Oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Focus on essential
research and materials research and breakthrough.
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Polymer
electrolyte. Mainly research in ion-exchange
diaphragms
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Alkaline
fuel cells
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