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BLOOM BOX
By AFZAL SHIHAB
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MUSLIM ASSOCIATION COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, VENJARAMOODU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695607 2011-2012
SEMINAR REPORT ON
BLOOM BOX
By AFZAL SHIHAB
Guided by Mr. SHABEER L.M.E
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MUSLIM ASSOCIATION COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, VENJARAMOODU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695607 2011 2012
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MUSLIM ASSOCIATION COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, VENJARAMOODU, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM- 695607 2011 2012
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the seminar entitled BLOOM BOX has been carried out by AFZAL SHIHAB under my guidance in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering of University of Kerala during the academic year 2011-2012.
Head of
L.M.E A. Jaleelullah
Prof.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my seminar guide, Mr.Shabeer for the timely advice and assistance during the preparation of the manuscript of the seminar. My special thanks to the Coordinator, Mrs.Jessin for permitting me to present the seminar. I also express my sincere gratitude to Prof.Jaleelullah, Head of the Department, Department of Mechanical Engineering for his support and encouragement in presenting this seminar. I am also indebted to my teachers and friends without whose help and active participation, this seminar would not have been a success. Above all, I thank almighty God for the successful conduct of this seminar
AFZAL SHIHAB
PAGE INDEX
Topic ABSTRACT 1. 2 3 INTRODUCTION HISTORY OF FUEL CELL SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL 3.1 3.2 3.3 4 SPECIFICATIONS OF SOFC WORKING OF SOFC CHALLENGES OF SOFC
Page No. 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 28
BLOOM BOX 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 K.R SRIDHAR & BLOOM BOX WHAT IS BLOOM BOX? HOW MUCH POWER? RECTIFICATIONS TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
A PEEK IN TO THE FUTURE 5.1 5.2 ENERGY REVOLUTION REPLACE THE GRID?
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CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY
TABLE INDEX
Table BLOOM BOX 1.1 COMPARISONS 23 Page No.
FIGURE INDEX
Figure FUEL CELL 1.1 1.2 1.3 HYDROGEN OXYGEN FUEL CELL SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL PLANAR FUEL CELL ARCHITECTURE BLOOM BOX 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 BLOOM BOX K.R SRIDHAR CERAMIC PLATES STACKS A PEEK IN TO NEAR FUTURE 3.1 3.2 SCHEMATIC FOR EMPOWERING A VILLAGE NEW ENERGY VISION 25 26 19 19 21 22 12 13 16 Page No.
ABSTRACT
Power generation has been the biggest problem faced by humanity in the 20th century. We are skeptical whether to save for future or nurture the present.to save the environment or move forward in the path of development. Developed countries refuse to fall back; developing countries refuse to stop competing. In this scenario the only practical solution is the development of commercially viable green energy technologies. The Bloom Box is a SOFC in such a direction; a commercially viable solution to meet the growing energy needs. Developed by Dr.K.R.Sridhar, an Indian origin scientist, co- founder and CEO of the Bloom Energy Corporation, the Bloom Box promises greener energy with reduced carbon foot print when running on natural gas. This Technology is carbon neutral when fuels derived from biomass is used. Many companies like Google, Adobe, eBay etc are currently using the ES 5000(100 KW) energy server, the companys first product in the market. The future technology lies in replacing the power grid and conventional power plants to start an era of distributed generation using Bloom Box in every household or region, eliminating the huge losses and reducing the environmental pollution.
INTRODUCTION
Before Dr.K.R.Sridhars invention of Bloom Box, over a hundred years ago, the fuel cells were invented .What is a fuel cell? A single fuel cell is made up of an anode and a cathode with an electrolyte in the middle. Fuel such as natural gas, biogas, or hydrogen is passed into the anode side and an oxidant is passed into the cathode side causing a reaction that moves electrons into the fuel cells circuit, thus producing electricity. There are several types of fuel cells, but the primary focus in this appendix is on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and, more specifically, the Bloom Box produced by Bloom Energy, Corporation in Sunnyvale, California
In todays expanding global economy, the need of sustainable energy is more pressing due to the depletion of fossil fuels. We are in a energy crisis whether to save for future or to nurture the present. By using Bloom Box clean energy can be obtained in economic ways, thus eliminating the defects of power generation from fossil fuels such as global warming, the high time required for the production also the price. New sustainable energies should be looked at as possible solutions to this crisis as they can be used to either help alleviate the usage of fossil fuels or eventually replace them completely.
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applications of SOFC units, and they tend to be rather large. While solid electrolytes cannot leak, they can crack. If natural gas is used as fuel instead of pure hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other off gases are produced.
SPECIFICATIONS OF SOFCS
Cathode Porous, electronic and ionic conductor.
LSM (lanthanum strontium manganate), LSM-YSZ (yttrium zirconium) composite etc. Reaction at Three Phase Boundaries only. ~200microns thickness. Transport O2- ions across the electrolyte to the anode
stabilized
Electrolyte.
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Dense layer of ceramic, ionic conductivity, min electrical YSZs, ScSZ(scandium stabilized zirconium), GDC (Gadolinium 15-25 micron thickness.
Yttria (Y2O3) stabilized Zirconia (ZrO2) + Nickel- cermet. Ni catalyst participate in reforming reactions Reforming endothermic; so automatic anode cooling 120-320 microns thickness Reforming Reactions Methane: Propane: Ethanol: ADDITIONAL REACTION: 2CO+O2 CO2+2e-
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WORKING OF SOFC
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is composed of four distinct parts: an electrolyte, an anode, a cathode, and an interconnect. Each part serves a distinct purpose in the fuel cell. Ultimately the purpose of an SOFC is to take a fuel input and produce electrical output. In general this occurs through the oxidation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The purpose of the anode of the fuel cell is to oxidize fuel in the presence of oxygen ions from the electrolyte (which were produced at the cathode of the SOFC). The oxidation occurs as dictated by the following equation: 2 H2(g) 4 H+ + 4 e 2CO+O2 CO2+2e2 molecules of H in gaseous state oxidize to form 4 ions of hydrogen and four electrons. Extra 2 electrons are obtained from oxidizing carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. The purpose of the cathode of the SOFC is to reduce gaseous oxygen to oxygen ions which are then absorbed by the electrolyte. This reaction is governed by the following equation:
In cathode oxygen gas is supplied, which reduces and form oxygen ions. The over all reaction shows the production of water by the the combination of hydrogen and oxygen 2 H2(g) + O2(g) 2 H2O(l)
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the cell will not expand and contract as a single unit. This all defects made the Solid Oxide fuel cells very uncommon to the public.
BLOOM BOX
The Bloom Energy Server (commonly referred to as the Bloom Box) is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) made by the company Bloom Energy, of Sunnyvale, California that can use a wide variety of inputs (including liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons produced from bio sources) to generate electricity on the site where it will be used. It is highly efficient, low cost and has lower polluting emissions. This type of fuel cell can withstand temperatures of up to 1800F, which would cause many other types of fuel cells to breakdown or need maintenance, and is highly advantageous for its smooth operation According to the company, a single cell (one 100 100 mm metal alloy plate between two ceramic layers) generates 25 watts The company, started in 2002 by CEO K.R. Sridhar initially named as ion america.K.R.Sridhar Indian origin scientist is the master brain behind this invention. The company launched its first commercial product in 2010 named as ES-5000 energy server. The Bloom Box ES-5000 Energy Server offered currently is at a quoted price of $800,000 is a 100 kW unit.
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Champaign.
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Illinois
Sunnyvale, raised $400 million in venture capital money. Its fuel cells (eventually unveiled in February 2010) were based on beach sand.
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Warm air flows across the cathode side. Electrolyte allow only oxygen ions from the cathode to pass
The chemical reaction of reformed fuel and oxygen ions electricity, water ,heat and small amount of
produce process
HOW MUCH POWER? The fuel cells are arranged in specific manner in order to produce more power.
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bulb.
One fuel cell can produce 25 watts which can power a light
power which can power one U.S home that is 10 INDIAN homes.
kilowatts, which has a size of a refrigerator, can run a small store front business.
it has a size of parking space, can power 30,000sq foot office building or 100 homes.
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As the number of stacks increases the power it produces also Stacks are the heart of BloomBox.
increases.
RECTIFICATIONS
Bloom Box rectified the defects of solid oxide fuel cell and make the idea of fuel cell commercially viable. Material cost of the electrode and electrolyte was great problem of SOFCs, this problem was solved by using beach sand as electrolyte and secret formula inks. Durability of the
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materials at high temperature rectified by an innovative design and heat utilization to maintain temperature than a fluctuating one. The interconnect material which should be neutral in oxidizing and reducing environment was Platinum, Platinum metal which is of high cost replaced by a lower cost alloy in Bloom Box. The slow start up time was changed to 1-2 hrs by the thermal energy in the box itself. The inks which are free from nickel grain growth. The problem of coefficient of thermal expansion was solved, all the new materials in the Bloom Box has compactable coefficient of thermal expansion.
COMPARISONS
criteria Co2 emission efficiency Working cost Bloom box 350Kg/MWhr 50-60% 6.0 /kWh coal solar 960Kg/ 12-14% Natural gas 600Kg/MWhr ~55% $1.20/KWhr
Bloom energy- 5kW --- 80MWhr/yr Solar energy-5kW-----10MWhr/yr 67% cleaner than a coal powered thermal power plant, carbon neutral when biogas used.
TECHNICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Inputs
FUEL : biogas, naturalgas
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Input fuel pressure: 1.05460atm Fuel required Water required : 18.68229cu.meter/hr : 455L municipal water
Outputs
Rated power output (AC) Electrical efficiency : 100 kW : (LHV net AC) > 50%
Physical
Weight Size : 10 tons : 5.7m x 2.14m x 2.05m
Emissions
NOx SOx CO VOCs CO2 < 0.07 lbs/MW-hr negligible < 0.10 lbs/MW-hr < 0.02 lbs/MW-hr < 773 lbs/MW-hr on natural gas,
Environment
Standard temperature range Max altitude at rated power 0 to 40 C 6,000 ft. MSL
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Humidity
20% -95%
Fig 3.1: Schematic for empowering a village The figure shows the future out look of a village which is self sustainable. Production of energy by preserving agriculture.SOFC plats a vital role in this cycle. The Pyrolzer converts the Biowaste into Biogas, the waste Bio char is fed to the fields as fertilizer.Biodiesel obtained is fed to motor vehicles for
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agricultural needs.SOFCs consume Biogas and produce electricity, which is stored and supply to residents. The by product is water which under goes water treatment and fed for drinking purpose. Water can be also stored and can run a turbine generator assembly to produce electricity. The carbon dioxide obtained may supply to plants for their effective growth. Thus in future we can face the energy crisis, empowering a village in a environment friendly manner by preserving agriculture.
ENERGY EVOLUTION
The figure shows an energy revolution ,Now we are in the era of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, fuel oils etc .The power is produced in the power plant and transferred to utility areas through transmission lines and grides,this causes power loss. The next stage is of Solid oxide fuel cells which consumes renewable fuels such as natural gas, the next step SOFCs which consumes renewable fuels can be used, the hydrogen obtained can be fed to motor vehicles .At last a continuous power production can be done by SORFCs,the end product water obtained from the cell is splitted in to hydrogen and oxygen by the process known as photolysis of water. Hydrogen is splitted from water by using solar power. Thus the system became self sustainable.
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CONCLUSION
Bloom Box was really a dramatic evolution in the field of power generation. The only concern is the cost which is not affordable for the customers. Modifications and experiments are in progress to make Bloom Box a commercially viable product. Most of the customers are cautious about the performance of the product. There is high secrecy in the production of Bloom Energy which is to be relived in the near future. The Energy Server ES-5000 is working for last 3 years; the reliability of the product can be verified in 5-10years. If the product blooms in this period, we should have a bright future.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. The Fuel cell hand book US dept of energy 7th edition available in on line by the US government www.bloomenergy.com,www.osti.gov,www.wpi.edu/pubs ,www.wikipedia.org
2.
3. S.C Singhal and K.Kendall,high temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: Fundamentals ,Design and application,Elsevier,Oxford,U K,2003
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