NIST Testing Acumetrics Fuel Cell

By Anuradha Shukla

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Acumentrics has recently submitted a 5 kW fuel cell generator to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD.

 

The NIST Residential Fuel cell Test Facility aims to determine the seasonal performance of residential fuel cell systems for the development of a consumer-oriented performance rating.

 

“NIST provides a critical service to American consumers,” said Gary Simon, Acumentrics’ CEO in a statement to the press.

 

Simon looks forward to their unbiased feedback and is confident that their team has developed a safe system, not only in terms of people and buildings, but also the environment.

 

NIST, a part of the US Department of Commerce, develops rating methodologies for a broad range of consumer appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators. The institute is using the Acumentrics generator, among others, to help develop a proposed standard for rating the performance of residential fuel cells.

 

NIST has also evaluated polymer fuel cell technology. Since Acumentrics offer electric load following and fuel flexibility the company believes its tubular ceramics will be most compatible with home use.

 

According to Mark Davis, the principal investigator of NIST’s Residential Fuel Cell Test Facility the feasibility of residential fuel cells draws closer as fuel cell manufacturers continue to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of fuel cell technology.

 

Davis points out that the institute strongly believes that widespread adoption of residential fuel cells will suffer without a means for future consumers to evaluate the costs and benefits of the technology in terms with which they are familiar.

 

Acumentrics’ ceramic fuel-cell tubes operate at high temperature and thus they accept hydrocarbons such as propane, natural gas, and biogas directly, and disassociate the fuel inside the cell via in-situ reformation.

 

This results in a system that doesn’t require extra fuel pre-processing equipment and boasts twice the efficiency of a traditional generator set. Acumentrics’ fuel cells can also operate on hydrogen. However, customers are attracted to the compatibility with logistical, affordable fuels.