S. M. Lux, M. Binder, F. Holcomb, N. Josefik, M. White, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Champaign, IL
From 1995 to 1997, U.S. Army ERDC-CERL managed the installation of 30 200-kW Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells at military installations throughout the United States. These fuel cells were operated and monitored over a 5-year demonstration period. Lessons learned from this program have led to numerous product improvements making the current model a highly reliable unit.
U.S. Army ERDC-CERL also manages the Climate Change Fuel Cell Program. This program, initiated in FY 1995, provides a $1000/kW rebate to purchasers of fuel cells. Well over 100 awards have been made for fuel cell demonstrations throughout the world.
U.S. Army ERDC-CERL initiated a Residential Scale Proton Exchange Membrane Demonstration Program in FY 2001. This program requires operation of the fuel cells for a one-year period at a minimum average availability of 90%.
Performance data from each of these programs will be presented.
ERDC-CERL has demonstrated numerous applications of stationary fuel cells, and it has established a national resource facility for the independent, unbiased testing and validation of fuel cell systems for both military and commercial applications. Performance data and the lessons learned from these projects will be presented.
