Fuel cells and electrolysers in future energy systems - VBN

Annex IV. HT‐PEMFC
Technology (2008‐prices) HT‐PEMFC Ref.
Year 2007‐8 2010‐15 2020‐30
Data type Unit Status Potential Potential
General data
Fuel H2 H2 H2 [4]
Poisonous substances 17 CO, S, NH3 CO, S, NH3 CO, S, NH3 [3;4]
Diluents CO2, CH4 CO2, CH4 CO2, CH4 [4]
Operation temperature ˚C 140‐200 140‐200 140‐200 [7;10;26]
System capacity MWe 0,0001‐0,005 0,001‐0,2 0,001‐0,2 [3]
Total system efficiency % 85‐90 90‐95 90‐100 [7;34;53]
Electricity efficiency 18 % 55 55 55 [27]
Start‐up fuel consumption GJ/MW ‐ ‐ ‐
Time for start up from cold Minutes Instant Instant Instant [4]
Idle fuel consumption MJ/hour ‐ ‐ ‐
Technical lifetime (system) Years ‐ 15‐20 18‐20 [2]
Technical lifetime (cells/stacks) 19 Hours 11.000 >20.000 30‐40.000 [34;51;54;58]
Degradation 19
%/1.000 hours 0,9 ‐ ‐
Power density W/cm 2 0,25 0,25‐0,5 >0,5 [5;51;56;57]
System weight kg/kW ‐ ‐ ‐
System volume kW/l ‐ ‐ ‐
Regulation ability
Fast reserve kW/15 min All All All [4]
Regulation speed kW/second All All All [4]
Minimum load % of full load ‐ ‐ ‐
Financial data 20
Specific investments M€/MWel 10‐20 1,0‐1,9 0,3‐1,0 [2;34;51]
17
HT‐PEMFCs reduce the sensitivity to CO significantly, thus lowering the demands for purity of e.g. reformed fuels [7]. Up to 30.000 PPM
CO tolerance has been reported [10].
18 Integrated natural gas and methanol HT‐PEMFCs have been developed [7;17]. A benefit can be achieved by combining the reforming
process with the FC system, especially if the HT‐PEMFC is combined with steam reforming [7;53]. In this respect, methanol reforming is
an advantage compared to natural gas, as a temperature of 250‐300˚C is required for reforming, which is half the level of natural gas. For
HT‐PEMFC, 55 per cent electrical efficiency has been achieved when operating on hydrogen [27]. Here, an average electrical efficiency of
55‐60% is assumed to be possible in the long term.
19 The degradation is heavily dependent on the CO poisoning, which is lowered in HT‐PEMFC. The lifetime, however, is still lower than in
the case of LT‐PEMFC, as the cells are less developed. The cell lifetime of 40.000 hours is the target for use in stationary applications. To
increase the lifetime, power density can be lowered or more platinum can be added. There is a tradeoff between the cell lifetime, costs,
materials and size of the system. Lower lifetime could be acceptable if periodic maintenance costs are low enough.
20 The investment costs for 2015 are based on an intermediate towards the potential end costs. Investment costs are valid for FC, i.e.
boiler and heat storage have to be added in order to create a system. The fixed operation and maintenance costs depend on the techni‐
cal lifetime of the system compared to the lifetimes of the cells and stacks.
19